The Town FilesRawlins, Wyoming
City in Carbon County · population 8,221 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $217,100
- Household income
- $64,773
- Jan low / Jul high
- 15° / 82°
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 4
- Median age
- 39.7
Rawlins is a city of 8,221 people in Carbon County, Wyoming. The median home is worth $217,100, below the typical Wyoming town ($270,400). It ranks more walkable than 89% of Wyoming towns, easier by car than 82% of Wyoming towns, more vibrant than 78% of Wyoming towns.
How Rawlins 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 Rawlins is worth $217,100, below the typical Wyoming town ($270,400). Homes cost about 3.4 times the median household income of $64,773, which is more affordable than 60% of Wyoming towns. Median rent is $741 a month. 71.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Rawlins | Typical Wyoming town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $217,100 | $270,400 |
| Median rent | $741 | $902 |
| Median household income | $64,773 | $69,545 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.4× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 71.0% | 73.2% |
| Median year built | 1971 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.4% | — |
Who lives in Rawlins
| People | Rawlins | Typical Wyoming town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.7 | 39.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 17.4% | 18.2% |
| Under 18 | 21.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 18.4% | 24.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 15.4% | 9.8% |
| Veterans | 5.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 4.5% | — |
| Work from home | 2.5% | 6.2% |
| Average commute | 13.3 min | 17.0 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.9% | 89.6% |
Weather in Rawlins
July highs average 81.6°F and January lows 14.8°F. About 16.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year. Expect about 2 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 177 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
4 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Rawlins since 1950, compared with 4 for the typical Wyoming town. The strongest, an F0, struck on August 10, 1997 about 5.3 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 17, 2021.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 8 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on May 11, 2018.
Severe weather in Carbon County since 1996
Carbon County has been included in 5 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, biological, severe storm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 26, 2020 | Fire | FM-5375: Mullen Fire |
| September 5, 2020 | Fire | FM-5347: 316 Fire |
| April 11, 2020 | Biological | DR-4535: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3479: Covid-19 |
| July 22, 2011 | Severe Storm | DR-4007: Severe Storms, Flooding, And Landslides |
Jobs and pay in Carbon County
Carbon County had 6,532 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $60,308 a year. Unemployment was 3% in 2023; in Rawlins itself the ACS puts it at 7%.
Public schools in Rawlins
5 public schools with 1,610 students, about 11.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rawlins Elementary | PK-5 | 639 | 11.4 |
| Rawlins High School | 9-12 | 414 | 14.3 |
| Rawlins Middle School | 6-8 | 324 | 10.5 |
| Little Snake River Valley School | K-12 | 189 | 9.9 |
| Victory High School | 9-12 | 44 | 11.0 |
Rawlins questions
Is Rawlins, Wyoming a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Rawlins scores better for retirees than 25% of Wyoming towns and quieter than 36%. 17.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 39.7).
How much does a house cost in Rawlins?
The median owner-occupied home in Rawlins is valued at $217,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $64,773, so homes cost about 3.4 times income. Median rent is $741 a month.
What is the weather like in Rawlins?
July highs average 81.6°F and January lows 14.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 16.9 inches of precipitation a year.
Does Rawlins get tornadoes?
4 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Rawlins since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F0 on August 10, 1997. 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)