1st Advantage MortgageLincoln County households have a median income of $89,330 and median rent of $960 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). A loan makes sense only if its total cost beats your alternatives and the payment fits your budget. Check the lender's Wyoming license first.
On this page
- A quick profile of Lincoln County
- Income in Lincoln County compared with Wyoming
- How Lincoln County residents earn a living
- Housing costs in Lincoln County
- The counties around Lincoln County
- Lincoln County towns compared
- People and households in Lincoln County
- Reading the Lincoln County data as a borrower
- Budget math at the Lincoln County median
- Who licenses lenders for Lincoln County residents
- Checklist for Lincoln County applicants
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
A quick profile of Lincoln County
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Lincoln County's population at 20,486; only 10 of Wyoming's 23 county-level areas are larger. Spread over 4,075 square miles, that works out to roughly 5.0 residents per square mile. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Lincoln County is not part of any metropolitan area. Of the 24 Census places inside Lincoln County, Kemmerer leads by population with about 2,972; 9 of the 24 are incorporated.
Income in Lincoln County compared with Wyoming
Lincoln County households have a median income of $89,330 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 4th of 23 in Wyoming.
| Household income | Lincoln County | vs Wyoming |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 17.8% | -3.9 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 38.1% | -3.2 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 34.0% | +5.5 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 10.1% | +1.6 pts |
The spread is wide: 44% of Lincoln County households make $100,000 or more, and 18% make less than $35,000. 7.5% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 10.5%). The Gini index of income inequality is 0.404 (0 is perfect equality). For a borrower in Lincoln County, the county median is only context: a lender looks at the income you can document, so pay stubs, benefit letters or tax returns matter more than any average.
How Lincoln County residents earn a living
The biggest employer of Lincoln County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 22% of workers, followed by retail trade (11%). The sharpest difference from the state is in construction, at 11% locally and 9% for Wyoming. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 2.0% in Lincoln County. About 73% drive to work alone and 21% have trips of 45 minutes or more.
| Top industries | Lincoln County share | +/- vs Wyoming |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 21.7% | -2.8 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.5% | +0.6 pts |
| Construction | 11.4% | +2.9 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 8.4% | +0.6 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 8.3% | -0.8 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 7.9% | -1.1 pts |
Where long drives are the norm, a car repair is one of the most common surprise bills. A small repair fund can keep a breakdown from turning into a loan.
Housing costs in Lincoln County
Renters in Lincoln County pay a median of $960 a month, 3% below the Wyoming figure of $992. 30% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 19% spend half or more. With a median value of $372,600, a typical Lincoln County house costs 4.2 times what the median household earns in a year. The ownership rate is 77%.
| Measure | Lincoln County | Wyoming | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $960/mo | $992/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $372,600 | $309,700 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 77% | 72% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 30% | 43% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 21% | 26% | n/a |
Because most Lincoln County households own, home repairs are a frequent reason to borrow. An unsecured personal loan leaves the house out of the deal, while a HELOC uses it as collateral.
The counties around Lincoln County
Bear Lake County is closest, 33 miles from center to center; the sixth, Cache County, is 64 miles off. Income ranges from $68,782 in Caribou County to $83,597 in Sublette County; none of these neighbors top Lincoln County's median. Some neighbors are in Idaho and Utah. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Lincoln County resident follows Wyoming rules.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lincoln County | - | $89,330 | $960/mo | 77% |
| Bear Lake County, ID | 33 mi | $75,260 | $632/mo | 90% |
| Rich County, UT | 51 mi | $79,009 | $760/mo | 85% |
| Sublette County, WY | 54 mi | $83,597 | $1,209/mo | 84% |
| Caribou County, ID | 58 mi | $68,782 | $847/mo | 82% |
| Franklin County, ID | 58 mi | $71,950 | $894/mo | 78% |
| Cache County, UT | 64 mi | $81,665 | $1,213/mo | 64% |
Lincoln County towns compared
Here are the 14 most populous of the county's 24 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 77% of Lincoln County residents live in one of the 24. Incomes vary by place: $98,942 at the median in Alpine, $63,586 in Afton. Rent is cheapest in Diamondville ($642) and steepest in Star Valley Ranch ($1,955). None of the 24 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kemmerer | city | 2,972 | $76,626 | $824 | 32 mi |
| Afton | town | 2,908 | $63,586 | $844 | 37 mi |
| Star Valley Ranch | town | 2,007 | $96,071 | $1,955 | 54 mi |
| Alpine | town | 1,222 | $98,942 | $1,313 | 66 mi |
| Grover | CDP | 929 | n/a | n/a | 42 mi |
| Thayne | town | 732 | $78,194 | $1,346 | 50 mi |
| Smoot | CDP | 723 | n/a | n/a | 29 mi |
| Diamondville | town | 665 | $65,962 | $642 | 32 mi |
| Bedford | CDP | 482 | $129,792 | n/a | 48 mi |
| Turnerville | CDP | 463 | $158,478 | n/a | 45 mi |
| Osmond | CDP | 390 | $130,792 | n/a | 34 mi |
| Cokeville | town | 370 | $69,375 | $950 | 17 mi |
| Alpine Northeast | CDP | 355 | $158,720 | n/a | 69 mi |
| La Barge | town | 337 | $67,143 | n/a | 25 mi |
People and households in Lincoln County
Degree holders: 26% of adults over 25. The uninsured rate is 11.9%, against 11.3% for Wyoming.
| Measure | Lincoln County | Wyoming statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.7 | 39.1 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 26.0% | 30.6% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 4.4% | 5.8% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 11.9% | 11.3% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 3.5% | 4.1% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 8.7% | 9.4% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 7.5% | 10.5% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 2.0% | 3.7% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Lincoln County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 46.2% |
| 15 to 29 min | 19.4% |
| 30 to 44 min | 13.3% |
| 45 to 59 min | 7.4% |
| 60+ min | 13.7% |
Reading the Lincoln County data as a borrower
Where the Lincoln County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- Health costs. With 12% of the county uninsured, an interest-free hospital payment plan usually beats a loan (medical bills).
- Keeping the car running. At 21% with long commutes, repairs are a frequent Lincoln County emergency; first decide if the car is worth fixing.
- Manufactured homes. 12% of Lincoln County housing units are mobile homes, and their repairs are often paid with unsecured loans. Get the quote in writing.
- Six-figure budgets. For the 44% earning $100,000 or more, lifestyle creep, not approval, is the usual problem.
Budget math at the Lincoln County median
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Lincoln County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- $89,330 a year is $7,444 of gross monthly income
- Housing at the median rent of $960 uses 13%
- At 36%, room after rent is $1,720 a month
- $2,241: what a 43% ratio leaves once rent is paid
If your rent is above $960, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
Who licenses lenders for Lincoln County residents
Consumer lenders serving Lincoln County are licensed by the state, not the county; in Wyoming that is the Wyoming Division of Banking. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. See the Wyoming state guide for the statewide picture.
Checklist for Lincoln County applicants
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- Look the lender up with the state regulator first.
- Ask about early-payoff penalties.
Related local guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Wyoming guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Lincoln County?
$89,330 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $76,176 for Wyoming. It ranks 4th of 23 in the state.
How much is rent in Lincoln County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $960 a month; 30% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
I own my home in Lincoln County. Personal loan or HELOC?
A HELOC uses the house as collateral; a personal loan usually does not. With 77% of homes owner-occupied here, many readers can compare both in writing.
What are the biggest places in Lincoln County?
By population: Kemmerer, Afton, Star Valley Ranch, Alpine, Grover. The county has 24 Census places in all.
Will a Lincoln County address affect my match?
Beyond confirming Wyoming as your state, no. Your answers about amount, credit, income and payments are all that count.