1st Advantage MortgageAbout 50% of Albany County homes are owner-occupied, and the median household income is $61,917. Your income, debts and credit decide what you qualify for. Get offers in writing, compare the total repaid, and never pay a fee up front.
On this page
- Albany County by the numbers
- Jobs and commutes in Albany County
- Household income in Albany County
- What it costs to live in Albany County
- Albany County and the counties next door
- Albany County towns compared
- What a median Albany County budget can carry
- Local borrowing considerations for Albany County
- Albany County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- Checklist for Albany County applicants
- Checking a lender's license in Wyoming
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Albany County by the numbers
Albany County is home to about 38,249 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 6th most populous of 23 county-level areas in Wyoming. Land area is 4,274 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 9 per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Albany County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. The Census Bureau counts 6 places in the county (2 incorporated, 4 census-designated); the largest is Laramie, with about 32,234 residents, or 84% of the county.
Jobs and commutes in Albany County
Education and health care employs 41% of working residents, the largest share; arts, lodging and food service is next with 10%. Education and health care stands out: 41% of workers here, versus 24% statewide. The survey's unemployment rate for Albany County averages 3.7% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 3.7%). Long commutes are the exception here: 5% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. Only 5.6% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Industry | Share of Albany County workers | vs Wyoming |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 40.5% | +16.1 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 9.7% | +0.7 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 8.1% | +0.4 pts |
| Retail trade | 7.6% | -3.3 pts |
| Other services | 6.4% | +1.3 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 5.8% | +1.0 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
Household income in Albany County
The median household income in Albany County is $61,917; statewide it is $76,176, so Albany County runs 19% below Wyoming as a whole.
| Household income | Albany County | vs Wyoming |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 28.9% | +7.2 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 39.0% | -2.3 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 25.3% | -3.2 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 6.8% | -1.8 pts |
The spread is wide: 32% of Albany County households make $100,000 or more, and 29% make less than $35,000. 20.9% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 10.5%). The Gini index of income inequality is 0.467 (0 is perfect equality). A household earning below the $61,917 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
What it costs to live in Albany County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $931 in Albany County versus $992 statewide. 51% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 31% spend half or more. With a median value of $333,000, a typical Albany County house costs 5.4 times what the median household earns in a year. Owners occupy 50% of homes. Half the housing stock was built before 1978.
| Home costs | Albany County | Wyoming | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $931/mo | $992/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $333,000 | $309,700 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 50% | 72% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 51% | 43% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 21% | 26% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 7.7% | 11.5% | n/a |
For the many renters in Albany County, deposits, moving costs and card balances are typical reasons to borrow. Keep the amount small and the term short. When half or more of renters are already stretched, a new payment needs a stress test: what happens if a paycheck is a week late?
Albany County and the counties next door
The six counties whose centers lie closest to Albany County's, from 51 to 76 miles away. Income ranges from $47,667 in Jackson County to $93,765 in Larimer County; 4 of these neighbors top Albany County's median. Some neighbors are in Colorado. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Albany County resident follows Wyoming rules.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Albany County | - | $61,917 | $931/mo | 50% |
| Platte County, WY | 51 mi | $67,718 | $781/mo | 76% |
| Laramie County, WY | 61 mi | $80,173 | $1,160/mo | 71% |
| Carbon County, WY | 63 mi | $70,511 | $842/mo | 76% |
| Larimer County, CO | 71 mi | $93,765 | $1,716/mo | 64% |
| Jackson County, CO | 76 mi | $47,667 | $1,701/mo | 71% |
| Goshen County, WY | 76 mi | $58,929 | $778/mo | 73% |
Albany County towns compared
Here are the 6 most populous of the county's 6 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 87% of Albany County residents live in one of the 6. This guide covers each of the 6 places and the rural areas around them.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Laramie | city | 32,234 | $55,613 | $925 | 26 mi |
| Centennial | CDP | 521 | $110,579 | n/a | 33 mi |
| Rock River | town | 219 | $49,500 | $2,059 | 14 mi |
| Woods Landing-Jelm | CDP | 182 | n/a | n/a | 42 mi |
| Albany | CDP | 0 | n/a | n/a | 39 mi |
| Fox Park | CDP | 0 | n/a | n/a | 46 mi |
A CDP is a named community without its own municipal government.
What a median Albany County budget can carry
Albany County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- $5,160 a month: gross income for a household at the Albany County median
- Less median rent of $931, which is 18% of it
- 40% debt-to-income limit: $1,133 left for all other debt payments
Two-income households and single earners in Albany County land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
Local borrowing considerations for Albany County
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Albany County borrowers.
- Assistance before credit. With a 21% poverty rate, check no-cost options before any Albany County loan.
- Renters under pressure. When 51% pay 30% or more for rent, the smallest loan that solves the problem is the right size.
- Consolidating cards in Albany County. Compare the total repaid, not the monthly figure (how).
Albany County residents: age, schooling, coverage
Degree holders: 55% of adults over 25. About 7% go without health insurance.
| People and households | Albany County | Wyoming | Median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 28.6 | 39.1 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 55.0% | 30.6% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 2.8% | 5.8% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 7.3% | 11.3% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 5.6% | 4.1% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 11.1% | 9.4% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 20.9% | 10.5% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.7% | 3.7% | 4.4% |
| One-way commute | Share of Albany County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 71.0% |
| 15 to 29 min | 18.6% |
| 30 to 44 min | 5.1% |
| 45 to 59 min | 1.4% |
| 60+ min | 3.9% |
Checklist for Albany County applicants
A short checklist for Albany County borrowers:
- Borrow the amount the job needs; extra cash adds interest.
- Ask each lender for the APR and all fees in writing.
- Look the lender up with the state regulator first.
- Read the final agreement; it must match the offer.
Checking a lender's license in Wyoming
Before sharing details with a lender, a Albany County resident can confirm its license with the Wyoming Division of Banking. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints nationwide. Statewide data and rules: Wyoming guide.
Nearby and statewide guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Wyoming guide.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Albany County earn?
The median is $61,917; 32% earn $100,000 or more and 29% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
What do renters pay in Albany County?
$931 a month at the median, about 18% of median household income.
Which towns does the Albany County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 6 Census places: Laramie, Centennial, Rock River, Woods Landing-Jelm, Albany.
Can Albany County residents use the questionnaire?
Yes. It asks the same questions in every Wyoming county, lists every requirement up front and does not affect your credit score.
Who do I complain to about a lender in Albany County?
Start with the Wyoming Division of Banking, then the CFPB complaint portal. Keep copies of every message.