Similar to its neighbors, Wyoming offers wide prairie vistas and distant mountain ranges to those who want space to call home. The state is a tourism magnet, drawing visitors to famous natural landmarks including the Grand Tetons, Yellowstone National Park, and Devils Tower, the formation featured in the film Close Encounters of the Third Kind. Much of the state is mountainous, offering high-altitude terrain for those drawn to the rugged alpine life. Cheyenne serves as the capital, but communities such as Casper, Laramie, Gillette, and Jackson each offer their own developed areas as well.
The Cowboy State is last in alphabetical order among the states, and it is also last in population: as of the U.S. Census Bureau's July 2024 estimate, roughly 588,000 people call Wyoming home, making it the least-populous state in the nation. It is geographically large, however, covering about 97,000 square miles, which ranks among the ten largest states by area. Wyoming's economy is anchored by energy and mineral extraction (oil, natural gas, and coal), tourism, and agriculture, and the state levies no personal income tax.
Places to Live in WY
As of 2026, the typical Wyoming home is valued at roughly $340,000 (Zillow), and home values have climbed substantially over the past decade. Statewide figures can be difficult to interpret, since a large share of Wyoming listings are land alone rather than existing homes, so it is wise to treat any single median with a grain of salt and to compare it against the specific community you are considering.
Cheyenne
Population: approximately 65,000
Cheyenne is the capital of Wyoming and its largest city. Its metro area is home to roughly 100,000 people. State government and the U.S. armed forces, anchored by F.E. Warren Air Force Base, are among the largest local employers.
Casper
Population: approximately 59,000
Casper, the state's second-largest city, has long been nicknamed Oil City, and energy has driven the local economy since the late 1800s. Today it also serves as a regional hub for banking, healthcare, and retail in central Wyoming.
Gillette & Laramie
Gillette (roughly 33,000) sits in the coal-and-energy heart of the Powder River Basin, while Laramie (roughly 32,000) is home to the University of Wyoming. Together with Rock Springs, they round out the state's largest communities.
Your Banking Options
Wyomingites have plenty of choices when it comes to picking a financial institution, with community banks, credit unions, and national players all competing for business. Below are a few of the options operating in the state today. Because banks merge and change names over time, it is always worth confirming current branch locations directly.
Community and regional banks:
- Hilltop Bank
- Pinnacle Bank
- RSNB Bank (Rock Springs National Bank)
- Central Bank & Trust
- First National Bank of Wyoming
- Bank of Commerce
- Sundance State Bank
Credit unions:
- Meridian Trust Federal Credit Union
- UniWyo Federal Credit Union
- WyHy Federal Credit Union
- Blue Federal Credit Union (formerly Warren FCU)
- Trona Valley Community Federal Credit Union
- Western Vista Federal Credit Union
- Reliant Federal Credit Union
- Sunlight Federal Credit Union
- CAMPCO Federal Credit Union
National and multi-state banks with local branches:
- Wells Fargo
- U.S. Bank
- First Interstate Bank
- BMO
Though convenience and reputation are major factors, many consumers are simply looking for the best interest rate available. Whether you are shopping for an auto loan or a certificate of deposit, RateZip.com's search tools can help you compare offerings between lenders in Wyoming and across the country.
Wyoming Home Buying
For those who want to settle in the Cowboy State and enjoy its panoramic scenery, RateZip.com can help. By pulling together mortgage options from a range of lenders, buyers can compare deals for a home purchase. If you already own a home in Wyoming, you can request refinance quotes from multiple lenders just by filling out a simple form. Rather than quoting a rate here, we encourage you to check current rates, which move constantly, through RateZip's live comparisons.
First-time buyers in Wyoming should also look into the Wyoming Community Development Authority (WCDA), the state's housing finance agency. The WCDA offers fixed-rate first-time homebuyer mortgages, down payment assistance loan products, and a mortgage credit certificate program, and it requires borrowers to complete a homebuyer education course. These programs can make a meaningful difference for buyers who qualify.
Another loan product worth knowing about in a state as rural as Wyoming is the USDA mortgage. Backed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, USDA home loans are available to buyers purchasing in areas the USDA designates as rural, which covers much of the state outside its larger cities. Eligibility is also income-based, generally capped at 115% of the area median income. For qualifying buyers, USDA loans can require little or no down payment, making them a useful option in Wyoming's wide-open communities.