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Cost of Living & Affordability: Rock Springs, WY

Updated 2026 · Based on median market data for Rock Springs, WY

Cap Rate
2.70%
Median Price
$285K
Rent/Mo
$1,030
1% Rule
0.36%
Fails

Housing Affordability

Rock Springs's price-to-income ratio is 4.9x — homes cost 4.9 times the local median household income of $58,200. This is moderately affordable. A healthy portion of the workforce can still aspire to homeownership, but many find renting more practical — creating a solid tenant base of working professionals.

Rent vs Buy Analysis

A typical mortgage payment on a median-priced home in Rock Springs (20% down at 7%) is approximately $1,895/mo for principal and interest alone — add taxes and insurance and the all-in payment reaches roughly $2,135. The median rent of $1,030/mo is significantly less than buying — this rent-vs-buy gap is one of the strongest indicators of sustainable rental demand. When renting is cheaper than buying, the renter pool stays deep and vacancy stays low.

Income & Employment

The median household income in Rock Springs is $58,200, with a population of 50,000 growing at 0.8% per year. Rock Springs is a smaller market. Research the local employment base carefully — smaller cities can be significantly impacted by a single employer's decisions. Moderate population growth indicates a stable economic foundation.

What This Means for Investors

Rock Springs is affordable with moderate returns. Focus on volume — the low entry point lets you scale to multiple properties faster than in more expensive markets.

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How Rock Springs Compares

Rock Springs vs Wyoming state average and national average across key investment metrics. Rock Springs's cap rate is below both benchmarks — deal sourcing is critical here.

Metric
Rock Springs
Wyoming Avg
National Avg
Cap Rate
2.70%
2.65%
3.81%
Median Price
$285K
$477K
$333K
Median Rent
$1,030
$1,560
$1,524
Property Tax
0.61%
0.61%
1.08%
Vacancy
5.2%
5.2%
5.6%
Pop. Growth
0.8%/yr
0.8%/yr
0.9%/yr

Nearby West Markets

City
Cap Rate
Price
Rent
Tax
Rock Springs, WY
2.7%
$285K
$1,030
0.61%
Pueblo, CO
3.8%
$285K
$1,300
0.53%
Las Cruces, NM
3.7%
$285K
$1,340
0.8%
Yuma, AZ
4.2%
$280K
$1,380
0.63%
Butte, MT
4.0%
$275K
$1,320
0.76%

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Rock Springs affordable for renters?
Renters in Rock Springs spend approximately 21% of median household income on rent. This is within the standard 30% affordability threshold, suggesting renters have room in their budgets. The median household income is $58,200, below the level needed for comfortable renting.
What is the price-to-income ratio in Rock Springs?
Rock Springs's price-to-income ratio is 4.9x, meaning homes cost 4.9 times the local median income. This is moderate — some residents can buy, many choose to rent.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Rock Springs?
A mortgage payment (20% down, 7% rate) on the median $285K home is approximately $1,516/mo before taxes and insurance. Adding those costs brings it to roughly $1,756/mo. The median rent of $1,030/mo is less than the cost of buying — this gap supports continued rental demand.
How does Rock Springs's cost of living compare to the national average?
Home prices in Rock Springs ($285K) are 15% below the national average. Rents ($1,030/mo) are 32% below average. Property taxes (0.61%) are below the 1.08% national average.
Full Rock Springs Analysis →Cap Rate CalculatorBRRRR Calculator

Explore Rock Springs & Related Markets

More Rock Springs Guides

Rental Property Investment GuideRent AnalysisProperty Tax GuideAppreciation & Growth ForecastNeighborhood Investment Guide

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