CountyScore

Carbon County

Wyoming · WY

#15 in Wyoming
71
County Score

County Report Card

About Carbon County, Wyoming

Solid livability well above U.S. median

Carbon County scores 71.0, 42% higher than the national median of 50.0, placing it in the top 35% of American counties. The advantage stems from low taxes, affordable housing, and reasonable risk exposure.

Competitive with Wyoming's county average

Carbon County scores 71.0, marginally below Wyoming's state average of 71.8, ranking third among the state's eight major counties. It represents mainstream livability with few standout outliers in either direction.

Tax and housing affordability lead

Carbon County scores 86.5/100 on taxes with an effective rate of 0.560%, paired with strong housing affordability (79.9/100) and a median home value of $214,500. The combination delivers genuine household purchasing power.

Income growth and health warrant focus

Income score of 26.9/100 reflects a median household income of $66,721, below state benchmarks and limiting upward mobility. Health outcomes (62.9/100) are the county's second-weakest dimension, suggesting gaps in care access or health outcomes.

Suited for steady, moderate-income households

Carbon County appeals to families prioritizing tax efficiency and low housing costs over high wages or cutting-edge health infrastructure. It's ideal for multigenerational families, retirees on fixed incomes, and workers in traditional industries seeking economic stability.

Score breakdown

5 dimensions have live data. 3 more coming as vertical sites launch.

Tax86.5Cost79.9SafetyComing SoonHealth62.9SchoolsComing SoonIncome26.9Risk57.3WaterComing Soon
🏛86.5
Property Tax
Effective property tax rate vs national benchmarks
TaxByCounty →
🏠79.9
Cost of Living
Median rent, home values, and housing affordability
CostByCounty →
💼26.9
Income & Jobs
Median household income and per capita earnings
IncomeByCounty →
🛡Coming Soon
Safety
Violent and property crime rates per 100K residents
❤62.9
Health
Life expectancy, uninsured rates, and health access
HealthByCounty →
🎓Coming Soon
Schools
Graduation rates, per-pupil spending, and attainment
⚡57.3
Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index — flood, fire, tornado, and more
RiskByCounty →
💧Coming Soon
Water Quality
EPA drinking water health violations and safety grades

Explore this county

Property Taxtaxbycounty.comCost of Livingcostbycounty.comIncomeincomebycounty.com
Compare Carbon County with another county →

Counties with similar scores

Blount County
Alabama
71
Median income: $61,096
Clarke County
Alabama
71
Median income: $49,167
Dale County
Alabama
71
Median income: $53,955
Boone County
Arkansas
71
Median income: $54,195
Hempstead County
Arkansas
71
Median income: $47,654

Deep Dives

Carbon County across the ByCounty Network

Detailed analysis from 5 data dimensions — each powered by a dedicated ByCounty site.

Property Tax in Carbon County

via TaxByCounty

Carbon's taxes beat national average by far

Carbon County's effective rate of 0.560% is roughly one-third the national median, making it among the most tax-friendly counties in America. The median annual property tax of $1,202 is less than half the national median of $2,690, delivering significant savings for homeowners.

Near Wyoming's state average

Carbon County's effective rate of 0.560% sits just slightly above the state average of 0.556%, landing it squarely in Wyoming's middle-ground for taxation. The median tax bill of $1,202 is below the state median of $1,666, reflecting lower property valuations.

More affordable than most nearby counties

Carbon County's 0.560% rate is lower than Big Horn (0.583%), Albany (0.573%), and Converse County (0.577%), matching Campbell County as one of the region's more affordable options. The modest median home value of $214,500 keeps annual tax bills comparatively low.

Median home costs about $1,202 per year

On a median home value of $214,500, Carbon County residents pay roughly $1,202 annually in property taxes—approximately $100 per month. Owners with mortgages may pay slightly more, around $1,283 yearly, due to additional assessment practices.

Review your assessment for potential refunds

Homeowners in Carbon County should regularly verify that their assessed values match current market conditions. If your property's assessment appears inflated compared to recent comparable sales, filing a timely appeal could reduce your tax burden.

Full property tax analysis on TaxByCounty

Cost of Living in Carbon County

via CostByCounty

Carbon Below National Rent Burden

Carbon County renters spend 16.1% of income on rent, outperforming the national average of roughly 13–15%, though not by a large margin. The county's median income of $66,721 sits 11% below the national median of $74,755, yet housing costs remain relatively balanced.

Mid-Tier Affordability in Wyoming

Carbon's 16.1% rent-to-income ratio ranks slightly above the state average of 15.5%, placing it in the middle range of Wyoming county affordability. Rents at $894 monthly run below the state median of $937, offering mild savings compared to state-level norms.

Affordable Rents, Moderate Ownership

Carbon's $894 rent is lower than Albany ($936), Campbell ($952), and Converse ($930), while homeownership costs ($812) remain modestly competitive. Compared to Big Horn's $750 owner cost, Carbon is slightly pricier for homebuyers, but more affordable for renters.

Balanced Burden Across Tenure Types

Carbon renters allocate $894 monthly to housing, while homeowners spend $812—a rare situation where ownership costs less than renting. At $66,721 median income, renters dedicate 16.1% of earnings to rent, while owners spend roughly 14.6% on mortgages.

Smart Choice for Budget-Minded Buyers

Carbon County offers one of Wyoming's lowest homeownership costs ($812/month) paired with reasonable rents ($894), making it ideal for households prioritizing financial flexibility. If you're torn between renting and buying, Carbon's modest gap between the two tenure types eases the transition to ownership.

Full cost of living analysis on CostByCounty

Income & Jobs in Carbon County

via IncomeByCounty

Carbon trails U.S. income levels

Carbon County's median household income of $66,721 falls 11% below the national median of $74,755, representing a $8,034 annual shortfall. While better than the nation's lowest-income counties, the gap reflects regional economic constraints.

Mid-tier earner within Wyoming

At $66,721, Carbon County sits about $6,600 below Wyoming's state median of $73,360, placing it squarely in the middle of the state's income distribution. The county performs better than Albany and Big Horn but lags Campbell and Converse.

Solid middle ground regionally

Carbon County's $66,721 median outearns Albany ($59,881) and Big Horn ($60,547) but trails Converse ($79,164) and Campbell ($95,253). It represents balanced earning power for south-central Wyoming's mixed economy.

Rent burden is reasonable

At 16.1%, Carbon's rent-to-income ratio sits comfortably below the 30% affordability threshold, meaning renters spend roughly $893 monthly. This leaves meaningful income for savings, childcare, healthcare, and other essential expenses.

Build steady financial progress

Carbon County's combination of moderate income and reasonable housing costs creates a platform for consistent saving. Establish automatic transfers to savings before you see money in your account—building habits matters as much as the amount.

Full income & jobs analysis on IncomeByCounty

Health in Carbon County

via HealthByCounty

Carbon County's life expectancy ranks lowest

At 75.8 years, Carbon County's life expectancy trails the U.S. average of 76.1 years, placing it among the nation's lower-performing counties. With 17.8% of residents reporting poor or fair health—above the national average of 17.3%—Carbon County residents face meaningful health challenges.

Wyoming's health outcomes struggle here

Carbon County's 75.8-year life expectancy ranks among Wyoming's worst, falling 1.2 years below the state average of 77.0 years. At 17.8% poor/fair health, the county exceeds all but a few Wyoming peers, signaling concentrated health disparities.

More providers than Big Horn, fewer than Albany

Carbon County's 55 primary care providers per 100,000 residents exceed Big Horn County's 34 per 100K but fall short of Albany County's 80 per 100K. Mental health providers at 286 per 100,000 are moderately available but represent a fraction of Albany County's 617 per 100K.

High uninsured rates limit care access

Carbon County's 17.0% uninsured rate—nearly 2.2 percentage points above Wyoming's state average—means roughly 1 in 6 residents lack health coverage. Combined with moderate provider availability, this gap creates significant barriers to preventive care and chronic disease management.

Get covered and stay healthy

With 1 in 6 Carbon County residents uninsured, coverage matters more than ever. Visit healthcare.gov or Wyoming's Medicaid office to enroll before the next deadline.

Full health analysis on HealthByCounty

Disaster Risk in Carbon County

via RiskByCounty

Carbon's risk slightly below state average

Carbon County's composite risk score of 42.68 rates as very low and sits slightly above Wyoming's state average of 37.86. Wildfire exposure (81.90) and moderate earthquake risk (60.69) define the county's hazard profile.

Below-average vulnerability within Wyoming

Carbon County ranks in the lower-middle tier of Wyoming's 23 counties for disaster risk. The county benefits from very low tornado risk (8.62)—among the state's lowest—while facing moderate wildfire and earthquake exposure.

Safer than Fremont, comparable to Albany

Carbon County's risk profile sits substantially below neighboring Fremont County (59.73) and moderately below Albany County (48.47). The county's notably low tornado risk (8.62) differentiates it favorably from higher-tornado-risk areas.

Wildfires and earthquakes define Carbon's threats

Wildfire risk scores 81.90—substantial and among the county's primary concerns—reflecting significant forest exposure. Earthquake risk (60.69) and flood risk (50.35) present secondary hazards, while tornado risk remains exceptionally low at 8.62.

Wildfire and earthquake coverage are essential

Residents should prioritize wildfire insurance with explicit brush and forest coverage, plus maintain defensible space around structures. Earthquake insurance deserves serious consideration given the 60.69 score; standard homeowners policies typically exclude seismic damage.

Full disaster risk analysis on RiskByCounty

ByCounty Network

🏛Property Tax🏠Cost of Living💼Income & Jobs🛡Safety❤Health🎓Schools⚡Disaster Risk💧Water Quality

Data from U.S. Census Bureau ACS, FBI UCR, CDC, FEMA NRI, NCES, EPA SDWIS — informational only.