1st Advantage MortgageAbout 73% of Goshen County homes are owner-occupied, and the median household income is $58,929. Those figures describe the county, not you: compare at least three written offers by APR and total cost, and confirm the lender's license before you apply.
On this page
- Who lives in Goshen County
- How much Goshen County households make
- Goshen County housing compared with Wyoming
- Employment and commuting in Goshen County
- The communities that make up Goshen County
- Goshen County and the counties next door
- A Goshen County household budget, worked through
- Borrowing situations common in Goshen County
- People and households in Goshen County
- Four steps for Goshen County borrowers
- Licensing and complaints for Goshen County
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Who lives in Goshen County
Roughly 12,605 residents live in Goshen County, Wyoming, 14th by population among the state's 23 counties and county equivalents. It covers 2,226 square miles of land, or about 6 people per square mile. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. The Census Bureau counts 8 places in the county (5 incorporated, 3 census-designated); the largest is Torrington, with about 6,182 residents, or 49% of the county.
How much Goshen County households make
The median household income in Goshen County is $58,929; statewide it is $76,176, so Goshen County runs 23% below Wyoming as a whole. In the state ranking that is 23rd of 23.
| Income band | Share in Goshen County | Difference from Wyoming |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 31.1% | +9.4 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 41.8% | +0.6 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 20.9% | -7.5 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 6.1% | -2.4 pts |
About 31% of households earn under $35,000, while 27% clear $100,000. 14.7% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 10.5%). Income from any regular source can count, including Social Security, pensions and disability benefits, as long as you can document it.
Goshen County housing compared with Wyoming
A typical Goshen County rental runs $778 a month including utilities, which is 22% below Wyoming. 48% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 22% spend half or more. Home values center on $239,600, or 4.1 years of median income. 73% of Goshen County households own their home and 27% rent. The median home was built in 1971, so roofs, wiring and heating systems are a common source of repair bills.
| Goshen County | Wyoming | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $778/mo | $992/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $239,600 | $309,700 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 73% | 72% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 48% | 43% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 20% | 26% | n/a |
Owners with equity have a second option. Weigh a secured line against an unsecured loan by risk as well as cost before you choose (how they compare).
Employment and commuting in Goshen County
Education and health care employs 25% of working residents, the largest share; agriculture, forestry and mining is next with 13%. Agriculture, forestry and mining stands out: 13% of workers here, versus 9% statewide. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 3.5% in Goshen County. 6% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 13% work from home.
| Top industries | Goshen County share | +/- vs Wyoming |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 25.4% | +0.9 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 13.3% | +4.2 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 8.0% | +0.3 pts |
| Retail trade | 8.0% | -2.9 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 7.5% | +1.3 pts |
| Public administration | 7.4% | +0.7 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
The communities that make up Goshen County
8 Census places fall mainly inside Goshen County; the 8 biggest are below. They account for 7,621 residents, leaving about 40% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Live in one of these Goshen County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Torrington | city | 6,182 | $47,902 | $901 | 9 mi |
| Lingle | town | 430 | $80,481 | $784 | 3 mi |
| LaGrange | town | 398 | $48,110 | $580 | 33 mi |
| Fort Laramie | town | 252 | $39,615 | $1,023 | 12 mi |
| Yoder | town | 231 | $48,750 | $1,275 | 12 mi |
| Hawk Springs | CDP | 98 | n/a | n/a | 22 mi |
| Veteran | CDP | 17 | n/a | n/a | 9 mi |
| Huntley | CDP | 13 | n/a | n/a | 15 mi |
A CDP is a named community without its own municipal government.
Goshen County and the counties next door
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (31 to 66 miles). 5 of the six report a higher median household income than Goshen County; Laramie County is highest at $80,173 and Sioux County lowest at $53,929. The list crosses into Nebraska, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Goshen County | - | $58,929 | $778/mo | 73% |
| Platte County, WY | 31 mi | $67,718 | $781/mo | 76% |
| Scotts Bluff County, NE | 37 mi | $63,614 | $909/mo | 69% |
| Sioux County, NE | 41 mi | $53,929 | $745/mo | 60% |
| Banner County, NE | 50 mi | $78,839 | $975/mo | 68% |
| Laramie County, WY | 57 mi | $80,173 | $1,160/mo | 71% |
| Box Butte County, NE | 66 mi | $68,892 | $752/mo | 77% |
A Goshen County household budget, worked through
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Goshen County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- $58,929 a year is $4,911 of gross monthly income
- Rent at the median, $778, takes 16% of that
- $990: what a 36% ratio leaves once rent is paid
If your rent is above $778, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
Borrowing situations common in Goshen County
A few patterns in the Goshen County data, and the practical point behind each:
- Health costs. With 12% of the county uninsured, an interest-free hospital payment plan usually beats a loan (medical bills).
- Tight rental budgets. With 48% of Goshen County renters cost-burdened, test a new payment against a lean month.
- Consolidating cards in Goshen County. Compare the total repaid, not the monthly figure (how).
People and households in Goshen County
College graduates make up 23% of the adult population. 11.7% of residents have no health coverage.
| Residents | Goshen County | Wyoming | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.8 | 39.1 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 23.0% | 30.6% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 5.8% | 5.8% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 11.7% | 11.3% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 5.8% | 4.1% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 13.0% | 9.4% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 14.7% | 10.5% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.5% | 3.7% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Goshen County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 61.7% |
| 15 to 29 min | 21.5% |
| 30 to 44 min | 10.4% |
| 45 to 59 min | 2.0% |
| 60+ min | 4.4% |
Four steps for Goshen County borrowers
Before you apply, wherever you live in Goshen County:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Collect three written offers and compare APR and total repaid.
- Check the license, then the reviews, then the offer.
- Never pay a fee up front to get a loan.
Licensing and complaints for Goshen County
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Goshen County borrowers answers to the Wyoming Division of Banking. Banks and credit unions have their own regulators, and the CFPB takes complaints about any lender. See the Wyoming state guide for the statewide picture.
Nearby and statewide guides
The Wyoming guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Goshen County?
$58,929 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $76,176 for Wyoming. It ranks 23rd of 23 in the state.
What do renters pay in Goshen County?
$778 a month at the median, about 16% of median household income.
I own my home in Goshen County. Personal loan or HELOC?
A HELOC uses the house as collateral; a personal loan usually does not. With 73% of homes owner-occupied here, many readers can compare both in writing.
What are the biggest places in Goshen County?
By population: Torrington, Lingle, LaGrange, Fort Laramie, Yoder. The county has 8 Census places in all.
Are Goshen County applicants treated differently?
No. Everyone answers the same questions and is screened on the same objective points; lending partners set their own criteria under fair-lending laws.