City profile · Wyoming · Census ACS 2023

Cowley, WY

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Cowley - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

801
Residents
$78,456
Median income
$239,000
Median home
$963
Median rent (state)

Cowley - the verdict

Cowley ranks in the 60th percentile for household income nationally, out of every US city with at least 1,000 residents. Source: Census ACS.

60th
percentile, household income
53rd
percentile, home value
12th
percentile, median rent
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Cowley, WY

Census ACS 2023 estimates count 801 residents in Cowley, a small town within Wyoming. The typical household in Cowley brings in $78,456 a year, above the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 1.1%. Home values in Cowley run a median of $239,000, and the median resident age is 31.3 years. About 24.5% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 63.8% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

Housing supply pressure shows in Census Building Permit Survey data: 2 residential units were authorized in 2024 (Construction Slowdown), down 33% from five years earlier.

Living costs in Wyoming run below the national norm: the state registers 92.7 on a 100-equals-national-average index (Below Average) per BEA Regional Price Parities 2024. A typical two-bedroom carries a HUD Fair Market Rent of $963 per month statewide. EIA 2023 residential energy data puts Wyoming's average monthly utility costs around $180 (state average). On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 31.1 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (Very Low).

Population

801 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Wyoming

Median Household Income

$78,456 /yr

Poverty 1.1%

Cost of Living Index (state)

92.7 (US=100)

Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Wyoming average

How does Cowley compare to other US cities?

Cowley measured against every US city with 1,000+ residents, computed live from the same Census and FBI data shown throughout this page.

Household income 60% higher than other cities
Home value 53% pricier than other cities
Median rent 12% pricier than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Cowley against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to Wyoming only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

Wyoming-relative analysis

Median Gross Rent places Cowley near the bottom of Wyoming's cities

Among the 150 Wyoming cities PlainCities tracks with reported median gross rent data, Cowley ranks #73 - the 0th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Cowley only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#54 of 135
60th percentile in Wyoming
Median Gross Rent
#73 of 150
0th percentile in Wyoming
Median Home Value
#60 of 128
53rd percentile in Wyoming
Poverty Rate
#101 of 149
32nd percentile in Wyoming
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#59 of 150
60th percentile in Wyoming

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within Wyoming only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

60thIncome percentile

60th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Cowley's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$239,000 47th percentile more affordable than 47% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). This entry sits in this band. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Cowley $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Cowley, WY Cowley, WY's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Cowley, WY-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Cowley, WY median $78,456/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Cowley, WY's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Cowley, WY. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 24.5%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 1.1%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 63.8%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
801
Median Income
$78,456
Median Home Value
$239,000
Median Age
31.3
Poverty Rate
1.1%
Labor force participation
63.8%
Bachelor's Degree+
24.5%

Schools

Total Schools
3
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
750 residents800 residents850 residents900 residents 202020212022202320242025 764 residents 855 residents ▲ +11.9%
Cowley's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

📉 Construction Slowdown
Total Permits (2024)
2
housing units authorized
Single-Family
2
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
2.5
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 3
2020 6
2021 7
2022 7
2023 5
2024 2

Permit volume decreased 33% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
84.8%
Carpool
11.0%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
2.7%
Work from Home
1.5%

Based on 336 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Wyoming - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$85
avg/month
Natural Gas
$55
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$40
avg/month
Total Utilities
$180
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Wyoming state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Wyoming state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Cowley sits in

Cost of Living Index
92.7
Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$963/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
31.1 / 100
Very Low
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Wyoming

Red Butte
799 people
Guernsey
815 people
Dubois
818 people
Powder Horn
818 people
Bear River
835 people
Hanna
839 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Cowley's 801 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Alpha, IL
801 people
Homecroft, IN
801 people
Leesburg, IN
801 people
Mankato, KS
801 people
Millerton, NY
801 people
La Rue, OH
801 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Cowley's $78,456 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Cottage City, MD
$78,456 median income
Agricola, MS
$78,462 median income
Reno, NV
$78,448 median income
Centerville borough (Washington County), PA
$78,446 median income
Northampton, MA
$78,467 median income
Elk Rapids, MI
$78,472 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Cowley, WY Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Cowley, WY - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 83.2% 8.1% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 2.5% White 83.2% Black or African American 5.5% Asian 2.5% American Indian 0.8% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.0% Two or more races 8.1% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Cowley compares to nearby Wyoming cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Cowley (this city) 801 $78,456
Red Butte 799 N/A
Guernsey 815 $56,417
Dubois 818 $39,960
Census ACS 5-year FIPS WY NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Cowley, WY?

What is the population of Cowley, WY? +

Cowley, WY has a population of 801 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Cowley, WY? +

The median household income in Cowley is $78,456 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Cowley? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Cowley; the closest available measure is the Wyoming state average, a cost of living index of 92.7 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Below Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Wyoming vary by metro area.

What is the median home value in Cowley, WY? +

Cowley's median home value sits at $239,000, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.