CountyScore

Niobrara County

Wyoming · WY

#1 in Wyoming
76.4
County Score

County Report Card

About Niobrara County, Wyoming

Niobrara leads national competition

Niobrara County scores 76.4, significantly outpacing the national median of 50.0. This top-quartile national performance ranks among the best-scoring counties across the country.

Wyoming's second-best livability score

Niobrara County scores 76.4, exceeding Wyoming's 71.8 average and ranking second among these eight counties. Only Johnson County edges ahead, making Niobrara a top choice statewide.

Extraordinary tax and cost advantages

Niobrara commands Wyoming's lowest effective tax rate at 0.376% (91.7 tax score) and exceptional affordability with 84.3 cost score, median rent at $775/month, and homes at $194,200. The 96.7 risk score indicates exceptional economic stability.

Limited income and modest health outcomes

Niobrara's income score of 15.4 with $48,987 median household income is the lowest among these eight counties. Health outcomes at 64.2 lag peers, reflecting the tradeoffs inherent in this rural, low-income community.

Ideal for retirees and minimalists

Niobrara County perfectly suits retirees, remote workers, and others with outside income seeking ultra-low cost of living and minimal taxes in a stable, peaceful setting. Trade income opportunity for unmatched affordability and financial security.

Score breakdown

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

Tax91.7Cost84.3SafetyComing SoonHealth64.2SchoolsComing SoonIncome15.4Risk96.7WaterComing Soon
🏛91.7
Property Tax
Effective property tax rate vs national benchmarks
TaxByCounty →
🏠84.3
Cost of Living
Median rent, home values, and housing affordability
CostByCounty →
💼15.4
Income & Jobs
Median household income and per capita earnings
IncomeByCounty →
🛡Coming Soon
Safety
Violent and property crime rates per 100K residents
❤64.2
Health
Life expectancy, uninsured rates, and health access
HealthByCounty →
🎓Coming Soon
Schools
Graduation rates, per-pupil spending, and attainment
⚡96.7
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 Niobrara County with another county →

Counties with similar scores

Washington County
Colorado
76.4
Median income: $65,164
Big Stone County
Minnesota
76.4
Median income: $65,475
Keya Paha County
Nebraska
76.4
Median income: $60,313
Miner County
South Dakota
76.4
Median income: $72,589
Clay County
Alabama
76.5
Median income: $51,852

Deep Dives

Niobrara County across the ByCounty Network

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

Property Tax in Niobrara County

via TaxByCounty

Niobrara offers extreme tax relief

Niobrara County's effective tax rate of 0.376% ranks in the bottom 5% nationally, with median taxes of just $731 against the national median of $2,690. Homeowners here enjoy one of the nation's lowest property tax burdens.

Wyoming's lowest tax rate

Niobrara County's 0.376% effective rate is the lowest in Wyoming by a wide margin, running 32% below the state average of 0.556%. Its median property tax of $731 is less than half the state median of $1,666.

Dramatically cheaper than peers

Niobrara County's 0.376% rate undercuts every neighboring county, with Johnson County (0.552%) nearly 50% higher and Platte County (0.588%) more than 50% steeper. It stands alone as the region's most tax-advantaged option.

Median home tax just $731

Niobrara County homeowners with a median-valued property of $194,200 pay only $731 annually in property taxes. With a mortgage, taxes rise to $1,048; without one, they drop to just $676.

Verify accuracy of low assessments

While Niobrara's overall rates are exceptionally low, individual properties can still be misassessed. Ensure your assessment accurately reflects your property's recent comparable sales value—even here, appeals can correct overvaluations.

Full property tax analysis on TaxByCounty

Cost of Living in Niobrara County

via CostByCounty

Niobrara County: Rural Affordability, Low Wages

Niobrara County's rent-to-income ratio of 19% reflects the harsh reality of rural Wyoming: low housing costs ($775/month rent) paired with notably low median household income of just $48,987, nearly 35% below the national average. This county demonstrates how rural affordability can mask underlying economic fragility.

Second-Most Strained in Wyoming

Niobrara County's 19% rent-to-income ratio ranks second-highest among Wyoming's eight surveyed counties, trailing only Johnson County's crisis-level 20.3%. Despite the lowest rents in the survey, Niobrara's weak income base pushes residents into significant housing cost burden.

Lowest Rents, Lowest Incomes

Niobrara's median rent of $775/month is Wyoming's lowest, running 17% below the state average, yet median household income of $48,987 is the lowest in the survey—a 34% gap below state median earnings. This imbalance explains why low rent doesn't translate to affordability.

Niobrara's Economic Strain

Renters pay $775 monthly while homeowners carry $674—ownership costs are the second-lowest in the survey—yet median household income of $48,987 forces families to allocate 19% to rent. That leaves Niobrara households with limited cushion for savings, healthcare, and unexpected expenses despite rock-bottom rents.

Niobrara County: Proceed With Income Caution

Cheap rent alone doesn't make a county affordable; Niobrara's low wages ($48,987 median) mean housing cost burden rivals more expensive counties with better jobs. Only relocate here if you have remote income or a specific job opportunity; otherwise, compare to counties like Lincoln or Platte where wages offer real relief.

Full cost of living analysis on CostByCounty

Income & Jobs in Niobrara County

via IncomeByCounty

Niobrara significantly trails nation

Niobrara County's median household income of $48,987 falls roughly $25,800 below the U.S. median of $74,755, placing it in the bottom quartile nationally. The county faces one of the steepest income gaps among Wyoming's 23 counties.

Lowest income county in Wyoming

Niobrara's $48,987 trails Wyoming's state average of $73,360 by more than $24,000, making it the state's lowest-income county by a significant margin. The gap reflects limited economic diversity and population decline.

Substantially below all neighbors

Niobrara's $48,987 lags every adjacent county: Platte ($66,299), Laramie ($77,884), and Hot Springs ($64,375) all earn $15,000–$28,000 more per household. Isolation and limited industry diversity drive this substantial income gap.

Housing is relative bright spot

Niobrara's 19.0% rent-to-income ratio, while manageable, approaches the affordability ceiling given low overall income. At $194,200, median home values are the state's lowest, making homeownership the most accessible path to housing stability.

Focus on income growth first

Given tight household budgets, Niobrara residents should prioritize skills development and job transitions that unlock higher earning potential. Even modest income increases compound significantly—pair this with automatic modest savings to build emergency reserves.

Full income & jobs analysis on IncomeByCounty

Health in Niobrara County

via HealthByCounty

Life expectancy near national average

Niobrara County residents reach 78.3 years on average, slightly below the U.S. average of 79 years. However, 19.3% report poor or fair health—the highest rate among all sampled counties and well above the national average, indicating widespread health vulnerability despite decent longevity.

Longest health-adjusted life expectancy gap

At 78.3 years, Niobrara County's life expectancy exceeds Wyoming's state average of 77.0 years, yet its 19.3% poor/fair health rate is the worst in the state sample. This paradox suggests residents are living longer but in poorer health—a pattern that demands attention.

High life expectancy, poorest health quality

Niobrara County's 78.3-year life expectancy matches Park County's closely, but its 19.3% poor/fair health rate far exceeds all peers, including the second-worst Natrona County at 16.9%. Mental health support is severely limited at just 85 per 100K, the lowest among sampled counties.

Highest poor/fair health rate, limited mental health

Nearly 1 in 5 Niobrara County residents (19.3%) report poor or fair health, the highest concentration in the sample, while only 16.3% lack insurance—slightly above the state average. With just 85 mental health providers per 100K and 82 primary care providers, healthcare access is critically sparse relative to need.

Health coverage and preventive care matter

Niobrara County's high rate of poor health outcomes makes securing insurance and preventive care essential. Visit healthcare.gov or contact your county health office to enroll in coverage and connect with primary care providers who can help address underlying health challenges.

Full health analysis on HealthByCounty

Disaster Risk in Niobrara County

via RiskByCounty

Niobrara is Wyoming's safest county

Niobrara County scores just 3.34 on the composite risk scale, earning a Very Low rating and placing it among the safest counties in America. The county experiences roughly 95% less disaster risk than the national average.

By far Wyoming's lowest-risk county

Niobrara County's 3.34 score is dramatically lower than Wyoming's state average of 37.86, making it the clear safest county in the state. The county's low exposure across flood (6.93) and earthquake (28.40) hazards creates exceptional resilience.

Vastly safer than all surrounding counties

Niobrara County's 3.34 score is nearly unmatched in the region—Hot Springs (16.09), Johnson (19.31), and Platte (25.73) counties all face significantly higher risk. Only Niobrara maintains such minimal overall disaster exposure.

Wildfire only notable hazard

Wildfire risk reaches 80.88 in Niobrara County, making it the primary concern despite the county's overall very low risk profile. All other hazards—flood (6.93), tornado (13.52), and earthquake (28.40)—remain minimal compared to state and national standards.

Wildfire coverage makes sense here

While Niobrara County is Wyoming's safest, wildfire coverage remains worthwhile given the 80.88 risk score and the hazard's catastrophic potential. Standard homeowners insurance often excludes wildfire; a rider or separate policy provides essential protection for this singular exposure.

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.