The Town FilesPowell, Wyoming
City in Park County · population 6,419 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $289,400
- Household income
- $63,523
- Jan low / Jul high
- 6° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 11 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 6
- Median age
- 32.5
Powell is a city of 6,419 people in Park County, Wyoming. The median home is worth $289,400, above the typical Wyoming town ($270,400). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 100% of Wyoming towns, hipper than 99% of Wyoming towns, more of a college town than 99% of Wyoming towns.
How Powell ranks
Percentile among Wyoming towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Wyoming towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Powell is worth $289,400, above the typical Wyoming town ($270,400). Homes cost about 4.6 times the median household income of $63,523, which is more affordable than 33% of Wyoming towns. Median rent is $764 a month. 69.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Powell | Typical Wyoming town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $289,400 | $270,400 |
| Median rent | $764 | $902 |
| Median household income | $63,523 | $69,545 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.6× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 69.6% | 73.2% |
| Median year built | 1974 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Powell
| People | Powell | Typical Wyoming town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 32.5 | 39.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 21.3% | 18.2% |
| Under 18 | 22.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 35.6% | 24.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 12.8% | 9.8% |
| Veterans | 8.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.1% | — |
| Work from home | 7.0% | 6.2% |
| Average commute | 18.2 min | 17.0 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.6% | 89.6% |
Weather in Powell
July highs average 85.2°F and January lows 6.1°F. About 6.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 11.2 inches of snow (typical Wyoming town: 55.7 in). Expect about 24 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 191 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Powell since 1950, compared with 4 for the typical Wyoming town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on July 11, 1978 about 7.3 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 1, 2005.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 11 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on June 29, 1964.
Severe weather in Park County since 1996
Park County has been included in 4 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, biological.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| April 11, 2020 | Biological | DR-4535: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3479: Covid-19 |
| August 5, 2017 | Flood | DR-4327: Flooding |
| May 29, 1978 | Flood | DR-557: Severe Storms, Flooding & Mudslides |
Jobs and pay in Park County
Park County had 14,258 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $51,058 a year. Unemployment was 2.9% in 2023; in Powell itself the ACS puts it at 3.7%.
Public schools in Powell
6 public schools with 1,842 students, about 13.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Powell High School | 9-12 | 594 | 16.5 |
| Powell Middle School | 6-8 | 397 | 13.2 |
| Southside Elementary | K-5 | 310 | 11.9 |
| Westside Elementary | K-5 | 307 | 12.3 |
| Parkside Elementary | K-5 | 209 | 10.5 |
| Shoshone Learning Center | 9-12 | 25 | 25.0 |
Towns near Powell
- Cody, WY22.2 mi · 10,028 people · home $378,500
Powell questions
Is Powell, Wyoming a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Powell scores better for retirees than 46% of Wyoming towns and quieter than 3%. 21.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 32.5).
How much does a house cost in Powell?
The median owner-occupied home in Powell is valued at $289,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $63,523, so homes cost about 4.6 times income. Median rent is $764 a month.
What is the weather like in Powell?
July highs average 85.2°F and January lows 6.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 6.7 inches of precipitation a year and 11.2 inches of snow.
Does Powell get tornadoes?
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Powell since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on July 11, 1978. The typical Wyoming town has had 4.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)