Johnson County is located in north-central Wyoming, extending from the eastern slopes of the Bighorn Mountains to the Powder River Basin and adjoining Montana along its northern boundary. Established in 1875, the county is associated with late-19th-century livestock conflicts, including the 1892 Johnson County War, reflecting the region’s early ranching economy. Johnson County is small in population, with about 8,500 residents, and remains predominantly rural with low population density. Buffalo, the county seat, serves as the primary service and administrative center. The landscape ranges from high-elevation forests and mountain valleys in the west to open sagebrush plains in the east, supporting ranching and agriculture, along with energy development and outdoor recreation tied to public lands. Local culture is closely connected to Western ranching traditions and the nearby Bighorn Mountain corridor.
Johnson County Local Demographic Profile
Johnson County is located in north-central Wyoming, anchored by the City of Buffalo along the Interstate 90 corridor between the Bighorn Mountains and the Powder River Basin. The county is part of a sparsely populated region characterized by large land area and low population density.
Population Size
According to the U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts for Johnson County, Wyoming, Johnson County had a population of 8,447 (2020).
Age & Gender
According to data.census.gov (U.S. Census Bureau), county-level age distribution and sex composition are available through the American Community Survey (ACS) profiles/tables for Johnson County, Wyoming. The specific age-group percentages and the male-to-female ratio are published there by ACS release year; this response does not reproduce those figures because an exact vintage (ACS 1-year vs. 5-year and year) is not specified.
Racial & Ethnic Composition
According to the U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts for Johnson County, Wyoming, the county’s racial and ethnic composition is reported in standard Census categories (race alone or in combination, and Hispanic/Latino origin). Exact category shares are published directly in QuickFacts and in more detailed form on data.census.gov for the relevant Census/ACS vintage; this response does not restate the full distribution without a specified reference year/table.
Household Data
Household characteristics (such as number of households, average household size, family vs. nonfamily households, and related measures) are published for Johnson County in the U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts and in detailed ACS tables on data.census.gov. Exact values vary by ACS release year; this response does not provide a single set of figures without an explicitly stated ACS vintage.
Housing Data
Housing metrics (such as total housing units, homeownership rate, vacancy rate, and selected value/rent measures) are available for Johnson County through the U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts and detailed ACS tables on data.census.gov. This response does not reproduce the full housing dataset because exact values depend on the chosen ACS vintage.
Local Government Reference
For local government and planning resources, visit the Johnson County official website.
Email Usage
Johnson County, Wyoming is a large, sparsely populated county anchored by Buffalo, where long distances and rugged terrain can constrain last‑mile infrastructure and make reliable home internet access uneven—factors that shape how residents use email and other digital communication.
Direct county-level email usage statistics are not routinely published; email adoption is therefore inferred from proxy indicators such as broadband and device access from the U.S. Census Bureau data portal (American Community Survey). Relevant indicators include household broadband subscriptions and computer ownership, which track the practical ability to maintain and regularly access email accounts.
Age structure also influences email adoption. County age distributions from the U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts for Johnson County provide context because older populations tend to show higher reliance on email for formal communication, while younger groups may substitute messaging platforms alongside email.
Gender distribution is available in QuickFacts and provides demographic context, but it is not a primary driver of access compared with broadband availability and device access.
Connectivity limitations are reflected in rural service constraints and local infrastructure context documented by Johnson County government resources and planning materials.
Mobile Phone Usage
Johnson County is in north-central Wyoming, anchored by the City of Buffalo and surrounded by large areas of rangeland and mountain terrain (including the Bighorn Mountains). The county’s very low population density and substantial topographic variation are central constraints on mobile connectivity: providers prioritize coverage along highways and population centers, while mountainous terrain and long distances between towers can reduce signal strength and increase “no service” areas. County geography and population context are available through the U.S. Census Bureau’s county profiles on Census.gov and county reference pages.
Key definitions used in this overview
- Network availability (supply): Where mobile voice and mobile broadband service is reported to be available (coverage, technology generation such as LTE/5G).
- Household adoption (demand): Whether residents subscribe to mobile service, use smartphones, or rely on mobile broadband for internet access.
Network availability (coverage) in Johnson County
General coverage pattern
- Mobile coverage in rural Wyoming counties is typically strongest in and near Buffalo and along primary transportation corridors (notably I‑90), with weaker coverage in remote valleys, mountainous areas, and sparsely populated public/private lands. This reflects standard rural network design and the physics of radio propagation in rugged terrain.
4G LTE
- LTE is the dominant mobile broadband technology in most rural U.S. counties, including Wyoming, and is commonly the baseline for “mobile broadband” coverage reporting. County-specific LTE availability is best treated as a coverage map question rather than a single countywide percentage because coverage varies sharply by location.
5G
- 5G in rural counties is often present in limited pockets (typically along highways and around towns) and may rely on low-band spectrum with wider reach but lower peak speeds than dense urban mid-band deployments. County-level 5G extent should be validated with official coverage datasets rather than generalized from statewide patterns.
Authoritative coverage sources
- The most standardized public dataset for reported mobile broadband availability is the FCC’s Broadband Data Collection (BDC) map. It can be queried by address or area to separate availability from subscription metrics and to distinguish LTE vs 5G where reported. See the FCC’s mapping resources via the FCC National Broadband Map and FCC background material on the Broadband Data Collection.
- Wyoming statewide broadband planning materials often summarize broadband conditions and may include mobile considerations, but they typically do not replace the FCC for granular mobile coverage. See the Wyoming Broadband Office for statewide context and program documentation.
Limitations of availability data
- FCC availability is provider-reported and modeled; it is not the same as on-the-ground performance everywhere. Reported “available” areas can still experience congestion, terrain shadowing, and indoor signal limitations, particularly in mountainous zones.
Household adoption and mobile access indicators (county-level where available)
Primary county-level indicators available from the Census
- The most commonly cited adoption indicator at county scale is the American Community Survey (ACS) “computer and internet use” table series, which includes:
- Households with a cellular data plan (a subscription measure).
- Households with smartphones (a device measure).
- Households with broadband such as cable/fiber/DSL (a fixed subscription measure), supporting analysis of whether mobile is substituting for fixed broadband.
- These data are accessible through data.census.gov by selecting Johnson County, Wyoming and searching for ACS internet subscription and device tables (commonly associated with ACS “Computer and Internet Use” topics). The Census Bureau also documents these measures on Census.gov.
Clear distinction: adoption vs availability
- Adoption (ACS) reflects whether households report subscriptions/devices.
- Availability (FCC) reflects where providers report service could be obtained.
- In rural counties, these measures can diverge: an area may have reported coverage but lower household adoption due to cost, device constraints, or preference for fixed services where available.
Limitations of adoption data
- ACS is survey-based and subject to margins of error, which can be relatively large in small-population counties. ACS also reports household-level subscription/device characteristics and does not directly measure signal quality or mobility use while traveling.
Mobile internet usage patterns (how service is used)
Mobile as primary vs supplemental internet
- The ACS subscription categories allow identification of households relying on cellular data plans and those with fixed broadband subscriptions. This supports a county profile of whether mobile is more commonly supplemental or, for some households, a primary internet connection.
- In rural settings, cellular plans are often used as a substitute where fixed options are limited or costly, but the degree of substitution in Johnson County should be quantified using ACS tables rather than inferred.
4G/5G usage
- Usage by generation (LTE vs 5G) is not typically measured directly by the ACS. The practical county view is:
- Availability by technology from FCC coverage datasets.
- Adoption of cellular plans and smartphones from ACS.
- Performance (speeds/latency) varies materially by location, tower backhaul, and spectrum; the FCC map focuses on availability rather than user-experienced performance.
Common device types (smartphones vs other devices)
Smartphone prevalence
- The ACS includes a household measure for having a smartphone, enabling a county-level estimate of smartphone access (subject to survey error and household reporting). This is the primary standardized public source for county-level smartphone access.
- Other mobile-capable devices (tablets with cellular, mobile hotspots, fixed wireless receivers) are not always cleanly separated in public county tables; “desktop/laptop,” “tablet,” and “smartphone” are the most consistently used ACS device groupings.
Non-smartphone mobile devices
- Basic/feature phones and specialized devices (e.g., telemetry, IoT) are not comprehensively measured in public county datasets. As a result, county-level device-type breakdown beyond ACS categories is limited in standardized public statistics.
Demographic and geographic factors influencing mobile usage in Johnson County
Geography and terrain
- Mountainous terrain and large undeveloped areas increase the likelihood of coverage gaps and signal shadowing. This tends to concentrate reliable connectivity near Buffalo and along major roads and valleys.
- Long distances between population clusters can reduce the economic incentive for dense tower placement, affecting both coverage and capacity.
Population density and settlement pattern
- Johnson County’s low density generally correlates with fewer cell sites per square mile, which can mean:
- More variable indoor coverage.
- More reliance on a limited set of towers and backhaul routes.
- Higher sensitivity to outages or congestion events during travel seasons or local gatherings.
Socioeconomic and age-related factors (measured indirectly)
- The ACS can support analysis of adoption differences by income, age, and other characteristics at county scale, but small-area reliability varies. County-level demographic context is available from data.census.gov and related Census profiles, while adoption-specific measures are in the ACS internet subscription/device tables.
Practical sourcing map: where each fact type comes from
- Mobile network availability (LTE/5G by location): FCC National Broadband Map (BDC)
- Household mobile adoption indicators (cellular data plan, smartphone): U.S. Census Bureau data portal (ACS tables for computer and internet use)
- State broadband context and planning documents: Wyoming Broadband Office
Data availability limitations specific to Johnson County
- Public, standardized datasets generally do not provide a single definitive countywide percentage for “mobile penetration” comparable to national telecom subscriber counts; county-level adoption is best represented by ACS household measures (cellular data plan and smartphone).
- County-level breakdowns of actual 4G vs 5G usage (not just coverage) are not typically published in a standardized public series; the closest defensible approach is combining FCC technology availability with ACS adoption/device indicators, while explicitly treating them as different concepts.
Social Media Trends
Johnson County is in north‑central Wyoming and is one of the state’s most rural counties, anchored by Buffalo (county seat) and Kaycee. The county’s low population density, large travel distances, and an economy tied to ranching, energy, and outdoor recreation generally correspond with heavier reliance on mobile internet access and community‑oriented communication patterns than in large metropolitan areas.
User statistics (penetration and active use)
- County-specific social media penetration: No major U.S. survey publisher releases Johnson County–level social media penetration estimates on a consistent basis. Most reliable measures are available at the national level and are commonly used as a proxy for rural counties when local estimates are unavailable.
- U.S. adult social media use (benchmark): About 7 in 10 U.S. adults report using social media. Source: Pew Research Center’s Social Media Fact Sheet.
- Rural–urban context: Social media use is widespread across community types, but platform mix and intensity vary; rural residents are generally less likely than urban residents to report high levels of “almost constant” online presence, while still maintaining broad adoption. Source: Pew Research Center report on Americans’ social media use.
Age group trends (who uses social media most)
National survey patterns provide the clearest age gradient and typically align with rural areas:
- 18–29: Highest usage and multi‑platform adoption; frequent daily use is common. Source: Pew Research Center social media fact sheet.
- 30–49: High overall usage; often a mix of Facebook/Instagram/YouTube, with increasing TikTok presence in recent years. Source: Pew Research Center (2024) usage report.
- 50–64: Majority usage, but generally lower than under‑50 adults; tends to concentrate on Facebook and YouTube. Source: Pew Research Center.
- 65+: Lowest usage rates; Facebook and YouTube dominate among users. Source: Pew Research Center.
Gender breakdown
- Overall: Nationally, differences by gender are modest for overall social media use, but platform-specific differences are consistent.
- Women: More likely than men to use visually and socially oriented platforms such as Instagram and Pinterest (and often Facebook for community ties). Source: Pew Research Center platform-by-platform demographics.
- Men: More likely than women to use certain discussion/news-adjacent platforms (pattern varies by year for X/Twitter and Reddit). Source: Pew Research Center.
Most-used platforms (percentages where available)
Reliable county-level platform shares are not published systematically; the most defensible view uses U.S. adult benchmarks:
- YouTube: Used by a large majority of U.S. adults (Pew reports YouTube as the top platform). Source: Pew Research Center social media fact sheet.
- Facebook: Used by a majority of U.S. adults; remains especially prevalent among older adults and for local/community information flows. Source: Pew Research Center.
- Instagram: Used by a substantial minority, skewing younger. Source: Pew Research Center.
- TikTok: Used by a substantial minority, strongly concentrated among younger adults. Source: Pew Research Center (2024).
- Snapchat: Skews young; smaller overall adult share than the largest platforms. Source: Pew Research Center.
- X (Twitter): Smaller adult share than YouTube/Facebook/Instagram; skew toward news and real-time discussion users. Source: Pew Research Center.
- Reddit: Smaller adult share; skew toward younger and male users. Source: Pew Research Center.
Behavioral trends (engagement patterns and preferences)
Patterns below are commonly reported in U.S. survey research and often map to rural-county usage where local options and distances shape communication needs:
- Community information utility: Facebook groups and pages tend to be central for local announcements, event coordination, school/community updates, and informal commerce in small towns; this aligns with Facebook’s strong penetration among older adults and broad adult reach. Source for platform reach by age: Pew Research Center.
- Video-first consumption: YouTube’s dominance corresponds with high consumption of how‑to content, local interest content (outdoors, equipment, travel), and entertainment; video is also a primary mode for news and explainers. Source: Pew Research Center.
- Younger users’ short-form preference: TikTok and Instagram usage concentrates among younger adults, reflecting higher engagement with short-form video and creator-led content. Source: Pew Research Center (2024).
- “Almost constant” online presence is age-skewed: Frequent/near-continuous online activity is disproportionately concentrated among younger adults nationally, shaping higher posting/viewing cadence on mobile-centered platforms. Source: Pew Research Center (2024).
- Messaging and sharing norms: Across platforms, private or small-group sharing (DMs, group chats, private groups) is a major channel for engagement relative to public posting, particularly for personal and community content. Source: Pew Research Center (2024).
Family & Associates Records
Johnson County, Wyoming family-related records include vital records (birth and death), marriage and divorce documentation, and court records that may reference guardianships, adoptions, and name changes. Wyoming birth and death certificates are administered by the state rather than the county through the Wyoming Department of Health – Vital Statistics Services, with access governed by state eligibility rules and identification requirements.
At the county level, recorded documents tied to family history (marriage licenses/records, some affidavits, and related filings) are commonly maintained by the Johnson County Clerk. Court case files that can involve family and associate relationships—such as divorce cases, guardianships, protection orders, and adoption proceedings—are handled by the Wyoming Fourth Judicial District Court (Johnson County).
Public databases are limited for vital records due to statutory restrictions; statewide court dockets and some register-of-actions information are available through the Wyoming Judicial Branch public access resources. Recorded land and certain clerk records may be searchable through county office systems or request-based searches.
Access occurs via state online/order processes for vital records, and in-person, mail, or phone requests through the County Clerk and District Court. Privacy restrictions commonly apply to birth certificates, adoption files, and sealed or confidential court matters.
Marriage & Divorce Records
Types of records available
Marriage records (marriage licenses and certificates)
In Wyoming, marriage records originate with a marriage license issued by a county clerk and are completed by a returned, officiated certificate/license after the ceremony. Johnson County maintains county-level marriage records for licenses issued in the county.Divorce records (divorce decrees and case files)
Divorce is a civil court action. The controlling record is the final decree/judgment entered by the district court. The court file may also include pleadings, orders, settlements, and child-related filings.Annulment records
Annulments are also civil court actions handled through the district court. Records consist of court orders/judgments and the associated case file materials.
Where records are filed and how they can be accessed
Marriage licenses (Johnson County Clerk)
Marriage license records are filed and maintained by the Johnson County Clerk (the county’s licensing authority). Access typically occurs through in-person or written request to the clerk’s office; certified copies are issued by the county clerk when available.Divorce and annulment decrees (District Court Clerk)
Divorce and annulment cases are filed in the Wyoming District Court serving Johnson County. The official record is maintained by the Clerk of District Court. Access commonly occurs by requesting copies from the clerk or by viewing non-restricted case information through Wyoming’s court records access tools where available. Certified copies of decrees are issued by the court clerk.State-level vital records (Wyoming Department of Health, Vital Records Services)
Wyoming maintains statewide vital records for certain events. Marriage documentation created at the county level is generally reported to the state. Divorce records may be reflected in state vital statistics systems to varying degrees (often as a verification record rather than a complete court file). Certified vital-record documents are handled through the state vital records office.
Typical information included in these records
Marriage license / certificate (county record)
- Full names of spouses (including maiden name where applicable)
- Date and place of marriage (county and location)
- Date of license issuance and license number
- Officiant name/title and signature; witnesses as recorded
- Parties’ ages or dates of birth and residences as recorded on the application
- Parents’ names may appear depending on the form version and time period
Divorce decree (court record)
- Case caption (names of parties), case number, and court/judge
- Date of filing and date the decree is entered
- Legal dissolution of marriage and restoration of former name where ordered
- Custody, visitation, child support, and medical support provisions where applicable
- Spousal support/alimony provisions where applicable
- Property and debt division terms and incorporation of settlement agreements where applicable
Annulment order/judgment (court record)
- Case caption, case number, court/judge, and dates
- Determination that the marriage is void/voidable under law and the disposition ordered by the court
- Related orders addressing children, support, property, and name changes where applicable
Privacy or legal restrictions
Marriage records
- Wyoming treats many vital records as restricted for a period of time under state law and administrative rules. Certified copies are generally issued only to the persons named on the record and other legally authorized requesters.
- Public inspection practices may differ between informational index access and issuance of certified copies.
Divorce and annulment records
- Court records are generally subject to public access, but confidential information (such as Social Security numbers, financial account numbers, and certain information about minors) is restricted or redacted under court rules.
- Specific filings or entire cases may be sealed or partially restricted by court order, which limits public access even though a decree exists.
Identity and relationship verification
- Agencies commonly require identification and/or proof of eligibility for restricted vital records and for certified court copies, consistent with Wyoming statutes, vital records rules, and court administrative requirements.
Authoritative offices and references (Wyoming)
- Wyoming Department of Health – Vital Records Services: https://health.wyo.gov/admin/vitalstatistics/
- Wyoming Judicial Branch (court information and records access resources): https://www.wycourts.gov/
Education, Employment and Housing
Johnson County is in north-central Wyoming on the east slope of the Bighorn Mountains, anchored by Buffalo (county seat) and Kaycee. It is a sparsely populated, largely rural county with a small-town service center economy, significant public-land proximity, and long travel distances between communities. Population is roughly 8–9 thousand residents (U.S. Census Bureau recent estimates), with an older-than-average age profile typical of rural Wyoming and relatively small cohort sizes in K–12 schools.
Education Indicators
Public schools (number and names)
Johnson County is served primarily by Johnson County School District #1 (JCSD1), which operates the county’s public K–12 system. Commonly listed district schools include:
- Cloud Peak Elementary School (Buffalo)
- Paintrock Elementary School (Kaycee)
- Clear Creek Middle School (Buffalo)
- Buffalo High School (Buffalo)
- Kaycee High School (Kaycee)
School listings and profiles are published through JCSD1 and the state directory maintained by the Wyoming Department of Education (see the Wyoming Department of Education and district resources). Counts can vary slightly by year due to program configuration and reporting (e.g., alternative programs housed within a campus).
Student–teacher ratios and graduation rates
- Student–teacher ratios: Publicly reported ratios for rural Wyoming districts are typically in the low-to-mid teens students per teacher; district- and school-level ratios are most consistently available through the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) school/district profiles. (A single countywide ratio is not always published as a standalone metric; NCES school-level staffing is the most reliable proxy.)
- Graduation rates: Wyoming’s official graduation reporting is maintained by the state; county-level graduation outcomes are usually represented by the high-school cohort graduation rates for Buffalo High School and Kaycee High School rather than a single county statistic. Recent Wyoming rates generally fall in the mid-to-high 80% range statewide, with local results varying year to year due to small cohorts. Official figures are published by the Wyoming Department of Education data reporting.
Adult educational attainment (high school, bachelor’s+)
The most recent multi-year estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (ACS) commonly show Johnson County with:
- A large majority of adults (25+) holding at least a high school diploma
- A smaller share holding a bachelor’s degree or higher than the U.S. average, consistent with rural, resource- and services-oriented labor markets
The standard source for these county-level attainment measures is the U.S. Census Bureau (data.census.gov) via ACS tables (Educational Attainment).
Notable programs (STEM, CTE, AP/dual credit)
- Career and Technical Education (CTE): Wyoming districts commonly offer CTE pathways aligned with regional workforce needs (e.g., skilled trades, agriculture-related skills, business, and applied technology). Program offerings are typically listed in district course catalogs and supported through statewide CTE frameworks described by the Wyoming Department of Education CTE program.
- Advanced coursework: Rural high schools in Wyoming frequently provide Advanced Placement (AP) and/or concurrent enrollment/dual credit in partnership with Wyoming community colleges or the University of Wyoming where staffing allows; availability can be course- and year-dependent and is best verified in JCSD1 secondary course guides.
- STEM enrichment: STEM programming in small districts is commonly delivered through integrated science/technology courses, project-based learning, and extracurriculars (e.g., robotics or skills competitions) when available; documentation is typically district-specific rather than centrally reported at the county level.
School safety measures and counseling resources
Wyoming districts commonly report a combination of:
- Secure entry procedures and visitor management at school buildings
- Emergency operations planning aligned with state requirements (drills and coordination with local law enforcement and emergency management)
- Student support services including school counselors (and, in some districts, school psychologists or contracted mental-health providers)
Specific staffing levels and campus practices are generally maintained in district handbooks and board policy documents; statewide policy context is maintained through Wyoming education guidance and local district governance.
Employment and Economic Conditions
Unemployment rate (most recent)
County unemployment is reported monthly and annually by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The most recent annual average rate is available via the BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS) series for Johnson County, Wyoming. (A single value is not reproduced here because the “most recent year” changes continuously; LAUS is the authoritative reference for the current annual average.)
Major industries and employment sectors
Johnson County’s economy is typical of rural north-central Wyoming, with employment concentrated in:
- Local government and public services (including education, public safety, and county services)
- Health care and social assistance
- Retail trade and accommodation/food services (Buffalo as a service hub and I‑90 travel corridor)
- Construction
- Agriculture/ranching and resource-related activity (historically including energy and supporting services, with variability tied to commodity cycles)
- Tourism/recreation-related activity tied to the Bighorn Mountains and regional travel
Industry composition and payroll employment benchmarks are available through the Wyoming Department of Workforce Services (Labor Market Information) and federal county profiles.
Common occupations and workforce breakdown
Occupational patterns generally reflect the sector mix and include:
- Management and business operations (local administration, small business management)
- Office/administrative support
- Sales and related
- Construction and extraction and installation/maintenance/repair
- Transportation and material moving
- Education, training, and library
- Healthcare practitioners and support
County-specific occupational employment estimates are commonly accessed through state LMI publications and federal occupational datasets; small-area precision is limited by sample size, so multi-year averages and broader categories are typically used.
Commuting patterns and mean commute time
- Typical pattern: Most commuting is within Buffalo/Kaycee and surrounding rural areas, with some inter-county travel along the I‑90 corridor and to nearby employment centers.
- Mean commute time: ACS “Travel Time to Work” provides the standard county mean commute estimate via data.census.gov. Rural Wyoming counties often show commute times around the high teens to mid‑20 minutes; Johnson County’s reported mean generally falls within that rural range, with individual variation driven by ranching distances and regional job sites.
Local employment vs. out-of-county work
ACS “County-to-county worker flow” and “Place of Work vs. Place of Residence” indicators provide the best available proxy for:
- The share of residents working inside Johnson County
- The share commuting to other counties (often to regional hubs and resource job sites)
These measures are available from ACS commuting tables and Census commuting products accessed via data.census.gov. Small population size can produce year-to-year volatility, so multi-year estimates are the most stable reference.
Housing and Real Estate
Homeownership rate and rental share
ACS housing tenure is the standard source for countywide housing occupancy:
- Johnson County typically shows a high homeownership rate (common for rural Wyoming), with a smaller rental share concentrated in Buffalo and, to a lesser extent, Kaycee. County tenure figures are available through ACS housing tables.
Median property values and recent trends
- Median home value: ACS reports median owner-occupied housing value; Johnson County’s median value is generally below major metro areas but can be influenced by second-home/recreation demand and limited inventory.
- Recent trends: Like much of Wyoming, recent years have generally shown upward pressure on prices driven by constrained supply, construction costs, and in-migration to small Western communities, though the magnitude is smaller and more variable than in high-growth metros.
For consistent county medians and trend comparisons, use ACS “Median Value (Owner-Occupied)” and, for transaction-based trend context, Wyoming market reports (where available) and state/county assessor summaries. ACS remains the most standardized countywide statistic (see ACS median value data).
Typical rent prices
ACS median gross rent is the most comparable county-level measure:
- Rents typically reflect limited multifamily stock and the concentration of rentals in Buffalo, with smaller rental availability in Kaycee and rural areas. Median gross rent is reported in ACS tables on data.census.gov.
Types of housing
The county’s housing stock is commonly characterized by:
- Single-family detached homes as the dominant type (Buffalo neighborhoods and rural residences)
- Manufactured homes present in rural settings and some in-town lots
- Limited apartments and small multifamily buildings, primarily in Buffalo
- Large rural parcels and ranchettes, with development constrained by infrastructure and land-use patterns
This profile aligns with ACS “Units in Structure” distributions and local planning/assessor descriptions.
Neighborhood characteristics (proximity to schools/amenities)
- Buffalo: The highest concentration of housing, services, schools, and civic amenities. Residential areas tend to have shorter in-town travel times to district campuses, medical services, and retail.
- Kaycee: Smaller residential base with proximity to Paintrock Elementary and Kaycee High School, and fewer but locally important amenities.
- Rural areas: Housing is dispersed, often emphasizing land access and privacy, with longer drives to schools and services, and winter travel considerations.
Property tax overview (rate and typical homeowner cost)
Wyoming property tax is based on assessed value and local mill levies:
- Residential assessment: Wyoming assesses residential property at 9.5% of market value (assessment ratio set in state law).
- Mill levies: Total mills vary by tax district and year (county, school district, municipal, and special districts). Effective property tax burdens in Wyoming are typically low to moderate compared with national averages, but the homeowner’s bill depends heavily on local mill totals and market value.
For authoritative local mill levies, valuation, and billing mechanics, see the Wyoming Department of Revenue and Johnson County assessor/treasurer postings (local government publishes annual levy and tax-district detail). Countywide “typical homeowner cost” is not a single fixed value because it varies by tax district, exemptions, and assessed value; the best proxy is a calculation using the local mill levy multiplied by assessed value (9.5% of market value).