RANK #393 / 1001 NAT · POP 79,977
1YR FORECAST: +0.1%
5YR OUTLOOK: +30%
Natrona County, Wyoming, is often recognized for Casper Mountain, a prominent landmark offering year-round outdoor activities like Nordic skiing, mountain biking, and hiking, along with scenic views of Garden Creek Falls. Located in east-central Wyoming, with Casper as its largest city and county seat, the county is situated along the North Platte River. The average commute time in Casper is around 16.5 minutes, shorter than the national average. The community offers a blend of historical charm and modern amenities, with a significant amount of public land for recreation. Residents have access to a diverse 10,768-acre park system, including urban and mountain parks, trails, lakes, and open spaces, providing opportunities for camping, biking, fishing, and boating.
Life in Natrona County is characterized by a strong connection to the outdoors and a conservative community. The Natrona County School District serves the entire county, including Casper, and offers public education with several highly-rated elementary schools. The local economy, historically rooted in the oil and gas industry, is experiencing diversification. While energy remains a component, there is a focus on expanding into other sectors, with recent investments flowing into data centers and various energy initiatives. Tourism also plays a role, with events and conferences contributing to the local economy.
Natrona County is one of 110 U.S. counties in this market profile — stronger than typical on the BoomTown Index. Within this cohort, its recent home-price change of +1.2% runs below the profile's typical +2.4%.
See all 110 Educated Suburban Growth counties →Overvalued relative to economy
Below national median
Moderate climate & terrain
Above national median (15x)
Housing looks overvalued at 8.6x — home prices are high relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Estimated local headcount ranges. Larger employers shown as floor + "+"; smaller employers show exact counts where reported.
Bars show trailing 12-month growth. The dashed Forecast bars are the model's next-12-month projection; the whisker marks the ±1% range (cooling–accelerating).
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
Source: CDC/NCHS vital statistics via County Health Rankings (2020–2022 avg). Rates per 100,000 population. Grade based on homicide rate relative to national average (~6.3). Learn more →
Source: EPA Air Quality System (2021–2023). Grade based on 3-year average median AQI. Learn about AQI →
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
Project Casper (Carbon-Negative Digital Infrastructure Campus)
Prometheus Hyperscale, Spiritus, and Casper Carbon Capture
|
$500M | Planned |
|
Dinosolar 440 MW Solar Facility
Dinosolar, LLC
|
$440M | Planned |
|
EG Haystack Solar and Battery Storage Facility
EG Haystack Solar LLC (subsidiary of Enfinity Global)
|
$200M | Proposed |
|
Anticline Wind Farm
Anticline Wind, LLC
|
$124M | Operating |
|
Casper Mountain and Muddy Mountain Road Improvements
BLM and Natrona County Road and Bridge
|
$50M | Under Construction |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 1001 counties.
With a Boom Town Index score of 60/100, Natrona County sits in the upper half of all 1001 ranked counties. and median household income stands at $72,156 — indicators that suggest solid fundamentals even if it's not among the fastest-growing counties in WY.
Housing in Natrona County is roughly in line with national affordability norms. The median home costs $273,000 and the income-to-home-value ratio sits at 0.26, with rents averaging $1,016/month. Not a bargain, but not a stretch for most local earners either.
Population and employment in Natrona County are both close to flat — population +0.3% YoY and jobs +0.3%. Home values shifted +1.2% over the past 12 months. A steady-state county, neither expanding quickly nor shrinking.
There's a moderate stream of newcomers. About 2.31% of residents moved from another state, which is above average and suggests Natrona County has appeal as a relocation destination — though it's not among the highest-inflow counties nationally.