City profile · Wyoming · Census ACS 2023

Cowley, WY

Cowley's Census ACS profile: residents, income, housing, and the joined public-record layers available for this place.

801
Residents
$78,456
Median income
$239,000
Median home
$1,044
Median rent (state)
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Side-by-side metrics and state or size-class ranks use the same Census and FBI fields shown on this profile. Results stay in the URL so you can bookmark or share them.

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See how it ranks

State rank, size-class rank, and four peer cities for Cowley.

Place dossier plate

Sheet WY-COWLEY-WY · Cowley, WY 801 pop · income 60th pct

POP-VILLAGE · INC-HIGH · COL-BELOW · SAFE-UNK · RANK-UPPER · PHOTO-FINISH · HOME-MID · BOOK-UNK

  • POP-VILLAGE 801
  • INC-HIGH $78,456
  • COL-BELOW 92.7
  • SAFE-UNK Safety pending
  • RANK-UPPER 60th
  • PHOTO-FINISH ≈ Cottage City
  • HOME-MID $239,000
  • BOOK-UNK Tracts pending

Nearest income peer: Cottage City, MD (+ $0 income $)

Instrument codes from this place’s ACS population and household income, BEA state COL, FBI safety, national income percentile, photo-finish peer city, home-value band, and matched Census-tract book - not a moving recommendation.

Income neighbourhood around Cowley

Lowest/highest poles plus peers nearest Cowley on median household income. Full ladder: /browse and /rankings.

median HH income

What this shows Neighbourhood peers only - not a full nationwide city board. Open a near peer when the gap is small; open the poles when the spread is wide.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 5-Year Estimates As of 2026-08-08

Compare beyond this state

Nationwide peers by population, income

Out-of-state nearest neighbors for Cowley on ACS population and median household income . Link sets are deduped so each column is a distinct comparison path, not a forecast that peers share a labor market or climate.

Similar population

Nearest out-of-state cities by ACS population. This city: 801.

4 peers

Similar household income

Nearest out-of-state cities by ACS median household income. This city: $78,456. Population peers are excluded.

4 peers

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
18th
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. Median household income here is $78,456 per 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 $1,044 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 37.9 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (Very Low).

A decision-led reading path

Useful questions to ask of Cowley's data

How this reading path is ordered

This is not a composite city score. It is a city-specific route through the available public records, ordered for this profile so the page starts with questions the joined data can actually answer. The route here runs from schools and households to housing and income to comparison shortlist to population change to work and mobility; another city can have a different sequence or fewer supported layers because the source joins are not uniform.

For Cowley, city-specific coverage includes local building permits, annual population history, commute-mode shares, matched public-school count. No matched row is reported here for within-city Census tract profiles, FBI reported-crime rates; the page leaves those layers out instead of substituting a statewide or national value.

Question 1

What does the education layer cover for Cowley?

The NCES join finds 3 public schools within the city match. 24.5% of adults age 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher in the ACS estimate. These measures answer different questions: the school count describes local institutions, while adult attainment describes residents and cannot be used as a school-quality rating.

The city has a broader matched school footprint, but count alone does not describe performance, capacity, program availability, or attendance boundaries. This profile deliberately avoids converting it into an unsupported family-friendliness score.

See how the family ranking is built →

Question 2

How far does income reach against housing in Cowley?

The home-value-to-income reference sits in a middle range: the ACS median home value is 3.0 times median household income. The ACS poverty estimate is 1.1%, which keeps the citywide median from describing every household.

This is a citywide price-to-income reference, not a mortgage-affordability test; it does not include interest rates, taxes, insurance, household size, or an individual buyer's down payment. Income and home value move within the same broad scale here. The useful next check is not a generic affordability label, but whether similar-size cities offer a materially different income, housing, or commute trade-off.

Compare the housing trade-off →

Question 3

Which cities make useful reference points for Cowley?

Within Wyoming, the closest population matches are Red Butte (799 residents); Guernsey (815 residents, $56,417 income); Dubois (818 residents, $39,960 income). Outside the state, the closest population matches in this dataset are Alpha, IL (801 residents); Homecroft, IN (801 residents); Leesburg, IN (801 residents). A third, income-matched reference set of 6 out-of-state cities sits in the income neighbourhood chart near the Place Dossier plate. These are mechanical peer sets, not claims that the places share a labor market, climate, culture, or metro context.

Use the in-state set to hold state policy and broad price conditions more nearly constant. Use the nationwide size set to ask whether cities with a similar resident count produce different housing, income, or commute outcomes. The income set is a third lens, deliberately separate from population matching.

Open a side-by-side comparison →

4. Population change

Is Cowley growing, shrinking, or holding steady?

Recent estimates point upward. Growth can increase housing demand and service needs, but the permit record must move in the same direction before calling it a supply response; the two series measure different things.

Census PEP estimates show the population grew by +91 residents from 2020 to 2025, a +11.9% change. Separately, Census BPS recorded 2 housing units authorized in 2024. PEP and ACS are different Census series, so the trend is kept separate from the headline ACS population.

See the national growth ranking →

Other supported questions

Why these stay compact

These joined records add useful context, but they do not need another full-size panel. Each remains a separate measure with its own geography and source boundary.

Work and mobility

What does the journey to work look like in Cowley?

Mode share answers how workers usually travel; it does not measure congestion, reliability, distance to a particular job, or the quality of transit service. No single mode completely explains the work trip here. The mix is more useful than a one-number commute grade, especially when comparing places where transit, walking, and remote work divide the non-driving share differently.

Driving alone is the largest reported mode at 84.8%. A reliable mean commute time is not available for this row, so the mode shares carry the comparison.

Public transit
0.0%
Work from home
1.5%
Drive alone
84.8%

City-level Census ACS commuting estimates covering 336 workers age 16+.

Compare commute patterns →

Population

801 residents

Micro place (under 10k)

Median Household Income

$78,456 /yr

Above median income · poverty 1.1% (Very low poverty)

Cost of Living Index (state)

92.7 (US=100)

Affordable · BEA RPP 2024, Wyoming average

City profile score · Cowley, WY

69/100

4 published dimensions · ACS/FBI 2023

Comparative score against U.S. cities with population of 1,000 or more on Census ACS medians (income, poverty, bachelor's share, cost of living) and FBI UCR violent-crime rates when published. Higher means a stronger standing on those published figures, not a livability rating, not a recommendation to move, buy, or pick a "best" city. Missing inputs drop out and redistribute weight. How it is calculated.

Poverty rate A+
1.1%

Share of residents below the poverty line; lower scores better on this axis.

Cost of living B+
92.7 index

BEA state Regional Price Parities index (100 ≈ national average); lower is stronger on this axis. Same value for every city in the state.

Household income C
$78,456

Median household income vs U.S. cities (pop ≥1,000); ACS.

Bachelor's+ share D
24.5%

Adults with a bachelor's degree or higher; ACS.

Violent crime N/A
N/A

No FBI UCR violent-crime rate for this place (coverage is incomplete).

Cowley profile (scored ACS/FBI dimensions) 4-axis radar comparing 1 series across Poverty rate, Cost of living, Household income, Bachelor's+ share. Poverty rateCost of livingHousehold incomeBachelor's+ share 69 B-
Cowley profile (scored ACS/FBI dimensions)
Read the chart values
  • Poverty rate: 92/100 (A+) · 1.1%
  • Cost of living: 75/100 (B+) · 92.7 index
  • Household income: 58/100 (C) · $78,456
  • Bachelor's+ share: 47/100 (D) · 24.5%

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 18% 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 #1 - 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
#1 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
How in-state ranks are ordered

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
Gauge source note

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

Show national distribution $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

Cowley's home-value-to-income ratio: 3.0×

ACS median home value divided by median household income.

Band
moderate
3.0–5.0×
National rank
#6,923 of 15,516
More affordable than 55% of tracked cities (pop. 1,000+)
Size class
#5,818 of 11,323
Micro cities (under 10,000)

At 3.0×, Cowley sits in the moderate band: national rank #6,923 of 15,516 and #5,818 of 11,323micro cities (under 10,000). Income and home value move in the same broad scale; check same-state peers before treating the multiple as an advantage or a warning.

How this ratio is calculated

Ratio = Census ACS 2023 median home value ÷ median household income for cities with both fields and population ≥ 1,000. Rank 1 = lowest ratio (most compact). Bands match the fleet affordability thresholds used on guides (<3.0 / 3.0–5.0 / >5.0). This is not a mortgage payment estimate and does not include rates, taxes, insurance, or down payment.

Income distribution context

$78,456 Cowley, WY median household income (Census ACS)

Show U.S. national quintile / Lorenz context Household income distribution - Cowley, WY Cowley, WY's median household income ($78,456) against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern. The Lorenz curve and quintile bars are national context, not Cowley, WY-specific shares. $ 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 median household income (Census ACS 5-year) with U.S. national quintile shares for context. Diagonal = equality; the curve is national, not computed for Cowley, WY.

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

PEP vintage

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.
Read the chart as text
Period Population
2020 764 residents
2021 785 residents
2022 817 residents
2023 844 residents
2024 851 residents
2025 855 residents

Housing Supply

BPS source

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

Commute source

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

Wyoming statewide monthly utility average (EIA 2023): $180

EIA 2023 residential energy data puts average monthly utilities across Wyoming at $180 (electricity about $85 , water and sewer about $40 ).

These are Wyoming statewide averages, not a meter reading for Cowley. Actual bills vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Wyoming's BEA cost-of-living index is 92.7 (Below Average; US average = 100, RPP 2024). HUD Fair Market Rent for a typical two-bedroom in the county around Cowley is $1,044/mo. FEMA's National Risk Index, averaged to Wyoming statewide on PlainCities, rates natural-hazard exposure at 37.9 / 100 (Very Low).

Cost/risk geography note

Cost of living is a Wyoming statewide BEA average; rent is a county-level HUD Fair Market Rent for the county Cowley sits in; the FEMA hazard score shown here is a statewide average of county NRI inputs, not a parcel-level reading.

How Cowley compares to similar-size Wyoming cities

Same-state peer method

Closest same-state population matches, not geographic neighbors. Population + median household income come from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 and B19013.

City Population Median Household Income
Cowley (this city) 801 $78,456
Red Butte 799 N/A
Guernsey 815 $56,417
Dubois 818 $39,960
NCES CCD Census BPS 2024
Primary sources on this page

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.

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

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES. Joins use OMB Bulletin 23-01 / FIPS keys.

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Estimate caveats

ACS and UCR figures are citywide estimates with vintage lags; they do not replace a local visit, school visit, or insurance quote.

Editorial standards, provenance, and how to cite this page

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.

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