1st Advantage MortgageSweetwater County households have a median income of $75,034 and median rent of $911 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
- Getting oriented in Sweetwater County
- Jobs and commutes in Sweetwater County
- Household income in Sweetwater County
- What it costs to live in Sweetwater County
- Regional comparison for Sweetwater County
- Towns and communities in Sweetwater County
- More Sweetwater County figures
- What the numbers mean for Sweetwater County borrowers
- Budget math at the Sweetwater County median
- A Sweetwater County borrower's checklist
- Wyoming rules that apply in Sweetwater County
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Getting oriented in Sweetwater County
With an estimated 41,542 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Sweetwater County ranks 4th of 23 in Wyoming for population. Spread over 10,427 square miles, that works out to roughly 4.0 residents per square mile. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Sweetwater County is not part of any metropolitan area. Rock Springs is the biggest of its 19 Census places, at roughly 23,127 people (56% of the county total).
Jobs and commutes in Sweetwater County
By the Census industry count, 21% of employed Sweetwater County residents work in education and health care and 16% in agriculture, forestry and mining. Compared with Wyoming, the county leans toward agriculture, forestry and mining (16% against 9%). Averaged over the five survey years, 5.6% of the labor force was out of work and looking. 13% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 4% work from home.
| Top industries | Sweetwater County share | +/- vs Wyoming |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 20.8% | -3.6 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 16.1% | +7.0 pts |
| Retail trade | 12.3% | +1.4 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 8.5% | +2.3 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 8.2% | -0.8 pts |
| Construction | 6.1% | -2.4 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 Sweetwater County
Sweetwater County households have a median income of $75,034 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 10th of 23 in Wyoming.
| Yearly household income | Sweetwater County | Gap to Wyoming |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 23.5% | +1.8 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 39.7% | -1.6 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 28.9% | +0.5 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 7.9% | -0.6 pts |
Some 23% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 37% have six-figure incomes. 12.9% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 10.5%). The Gini index of income inequality is 0.449 (0 is perfect equality). For a borrower in Sweetwater 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.
What it costs to live in Sweetwater County
Renters in Sweetwater County pay a median of $911 a month, 8% below the Wyoming figure of $992. By the Census definition, 41% of Sweetwater County renters are cost-burdened. With a median value of $251,400, a typical Sweetwater County house costs 3.4 times what the median household earns in a year. Owners occupy 75% of homes. Half the housing stock was built before 1980.
| Cost | Sweetwater County | Wyoming figure | Median county, U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $911/mo | $992/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $251,400 | $309,700 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 75% | 72% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 41% | 43% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 25% | 26% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 18.1% | 11.5% | 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).
Regional comparison for Sweetwater County
Daggett County is closest, 62 miles from center to center; the sixth, Carbon County, is 100 miles off. Sublette County leads the group on income ($83,597), Fremont County trails ($64,904), and Sweetwater County out-earns 4 of the six. The list crosses into Colorado, Utah, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sweetwater County | - | $75,034 | $911/mo | 75% |
| Daggett County, UT | 62 mi | $66,000 | $900/mo | 82% |
| Moffat County, CO | 80 mi | $73,849 | $1,039/mo | 69% |
| Uinta County, WY | 91 mi | $82,980 | $900/mo | 77% |
| Sublette County, WY | 93 mi | $83,597 | $1,209/mo | 84% |
| Fremont County, WY | 97 mi | $64,904 | $898/mo | 70% |
| Carbon County, WY | 100 mi | $70,511 | $842/mo | 76% |
Towns and communities in Sweetwater County
Here are the 14 most populous of the county's 19 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 97% of Sweetwater County residents live in one of the 19. North Rock Springs has the highest median household income on the list ($104,350) and Rock Springs the lowest ($69,168), counting places with at least 500 residents. Rent is cheapest in Reliance ($824) and steepest in Rock Springs ($928). None of the 19 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rock Springs | city | 23,127 | $69,168 | $928 | 18 mi |
| Green River | city | 11,581 | $84,747 | $921 | 32 mi |
| North Rock Springs | CDP | 2,277 | $104,350 | n/a | 21 mi |
| Reliance | CDP | 572 | n/a | $824 | 17 mi |
| Purple Sage | CDP | 489 | $55,432 | $892 | 24 mi |
| Eden | CDP | 472 | $89,625 | n/a | 40 mi |
| James Town | CDP | 431 | $118,750 | n/a | 35 mi |
| Clearview Acres | CDP | 273 | $62,054 | n/a | 22 mi |
| Wamsutter | town | 269 | $57,298 | n/a | 46 mi |
| Granger | town | 257 | $78,889 | n/a | 56 mi |
| Washam | CDP | 187 | n/a | n/a | 62 mi |
| Superior | town | 177 | $96,250 | n/a | 8 mi |
| Bairoil | town | 149 | $40,250 | $719 | 78 mi |
| Farson | CDP | 68 | n/a | n/a | 44 mi |
CDP: census-designated place, an unincorporated community mapped for statistics.
More Sweetwater County figures
College graduates make up 21% of the adult population. About 13% go without health insurance.
| People and households | Sweetwater County | Wyoming | Median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.9 | 39.1 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 20.9% | 30.6% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 7.2% | 5.8% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 12.8% | 11.3% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 2.8% | 4.1% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 4.4% | 9.4% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 12.9% | 10.5% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.6% | 3.7% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Sweetwater County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 48.0% |
| 15 to 29 min | 24.5% |
| 30 to 44 min | 14.3% |
| 45 to 59 min | 4.0% |
| 60+ min | 9.2% |
What the numbers mean for Sweetwater County borrowers
Where the Sweetwater County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- Medical bills. 13% of Sweetwater County residents are uninsured. Before borrowing for care, ask the provider about financial assistance and payment plans.
- Mobile home upkeep. 18% of units fall in this category; roof, skirting and HVAC jobs are common reasons to borrow.
- Getting ready. Gather pay stubs or benefit letters before you apply (checklist).
Budget math at the Sweetwater County median
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Sweetwater County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- Start: $6,253 gross per month ($75,034 / 12)
- 15% goes to median rent ($911)
- At 43%, room after rent is $1,778 a month
Subtract what you already pay on other debts. A new payment should fit in what remains, with some to spare.
A Sweetwater County borrower's checklist
Steps that save money for Sweetwater County residents:
- Get a written quote for whatever you are paying for in Sweetwater County.
- Compare the total repaid on every offer, not just the payment.
- Only work with lenders licensed for Wyoming borrowers.
- Ask about early-payoff penalties.
Wyoming rules that apply in Sweetwater County
No county office licenses personal lenders. For Sweetwater County, check the Wyoming Division of Banking. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. Statewide data and rules: Wyoming guide.
Related local guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Wyoming guide.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Sweetwater County earn?
The median is $75,034; 37% earn $100,000 or more and 23% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
Is Sweetwater County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $911 against $992 statewide, and 41% of renter households are cost-burdened.
Does this page cover Rock Springs?
Yes, along with the other 18 Census places in Sweetwater County, such as Green River, North Rock Springs, Reliance.
Does my county matter to the questionnaire?
Only your state does. Whether you live in Sweetwater County or elsewhere in Wyoming, the same rules apply.
Where can someone in Sweetwater County check a lender's license?
With the Wyoming Division of Banking. If a lender is unlicensed or asks for a fee before funding, walk away.