In Fremont County, Wyoming, rent on a two-bedroom takes about one in six dollars of the typical household's income
In Fremont County, 17.7% of the median household's income would go to rent on a two-bedroom at HUD's fair market rent (HUD and Census Bureau, HUD rent fiscal year 2027; household income 2024). That is lower than in 81% of U.S. counties.
Less distressed than 58% of U.S. counties.
What drives Fremont County's score
In Fremont County, late payments on loans are the highest-scoring part, at 62.0. Housing costs are the lowest part, at 16.9. About one in nine renters (11.0%, 2020 to 2024) pays half their income or more in rent, a lower share than in 85% of U.S. counties.
The County Distress Index combines five things we measure for every county: jobs, late payments on loans, income and the safety net, collections and bankruptcy, and housing costs. Each gets a score from 0 to 100; the higher the score, the worse off the county is compared with others.
Even so, Fremont County is worse off than most counties on people without health insurance (17.5%, 2020 to 2024) and people with a car or retail loan behind (9.4%, August 2025).
The five parts count equally; together they hold 14 measures. Under each part, a bar shows where Fremont County ranks among all 3,144 U.S. counties on that measure, as a percentile: the share of counties it is higher than. A longer bar means more trouble.
- 62.0 of 100
Late payments
Biggest factorCredit records, August 2025; credit scores, Q4 2025
- People with a car or retail loan behind9.4% · August 202589th percentile
- People with a credit card behind5.6% · August 202552nd percentile
- People with a subprime credit score22.0% · Q4 202543rd percentile
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- 55.8 of 100
Jobs
Adults not working, 2020–24 Census survey; unemployment through Aug 2026
- Adults 25 to 54 not working21.8% · 2020 to 202456th percentile
- Unemployment rate, 12-month average4.1% · Sep 2025 to Aug 202654th percentile
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- 53.6 of 100
Income and safety net
Poverty and income, 2024; disability and insurance, 2020–24 Census survey
- Children below the poverty line14.8% · 202437th percentile
- People with a disability15.4% · 2020 to 202444th percentile
- Median household income (lower income, longer bar)$67,636 · 202447th percentile
- People below the poverty line12.5% · 202444th percentile
- People without health insurance17.5% · 2020 to 202493rd percentile
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- 37.3 of 100
Collections and bankruptcy
Credit records, August 2025; bankruptcy filings, 2025
- People with unpaid debt sent to a collector27.7% · August 202566th percentile
- Bankruptcy filings per 100,000 people45.2 · 20257th percentile
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- 16.9 of 100
Housing costs
HUD's fair market rents, fiscal year 2027; renters, 2020–24 Census survey
- Rent on a two-bedroom as a share of the median income17.7% · fiscal year 202718th percentile
- Renters paying half their income or more in rent11.0% · 2020 to 202414th percentile
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Sources: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Fair Market Rents and U.S. Census Bureau income; Census Bureau, American Community Survey; Urban Institute, Debt in America; Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, Table F-5A; Equifax via the St. Louis Fed; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates. County Distress Index by American Default Research, from data through Aug 2026.
Where the money in Fremont County comes from
The Bureau of Economic Analysis adds up all the income that reaches the people of a county and splits it three ways: pay from work, income from investments and rent, and benefit checks.
Cents of every dollar of income, 2024
Fremont County
Wyoming
United States
- Pay from work
- Investments and rent
- Benefit checks
In Fremont County in 2024, pay from work was 51 cents of every dollar of income. Income from investments and rentals was 22 cents. Benefit checks were 27 cents. Across the country, pay is 61 cents of the dollar and benefit checks are 18.
Benefit checks have grown from 7 cents of every dollar in 1969, but pay from work still brings in more.
In Fremont County, benefit checks rose from 7 to 27 cents of every dollar
Benefit checks and pay from work as shares of all personal income, Fremont County, Wyoming: 26.6% and 51.3% in 2024. Yearly, 1969–2024.
Use this chart Free to use with credit
The quote: In 2024, benefit checks made up 26.6% of all personal income in Fremont County, Wyoming (U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, CAINC4).
Benefit checks are Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid paid on people's behalf, veterans' benefits, and food and income support, so a high share usually means an older population, low pay, or both. In Fremont County, 20.0% of residents are 65 or older (Census Bureau, 2024), against 17.2% nationally.
How Fremont County has changed
The number of people living in Fremont County grew by about 42% between 1969 and 2024, from 27,893 to 39,721. The number of jobs located there grew by about 33% from 1990 to 2024.
Unemployment fell from 7.3% in 1990 to 4.1% in 2025.
| Measure | Then | Now |
|---|---|---|
| People living in the countyBEA | 1969 27,893 | 2024 39,721 |
| Jobs located in the countyBLS QCEW | 1990 11,690 | 2024 15,557 |
| Unemployment rateBLS LAUS | 1990 7.3% | 2025 4.1% |
| People below the poverty lineCensus SAIPE | 1989 19.1% | 2024 12.5% |
| Median household income (not adjusted for prices)Census SAIPE | 1989 $22,864 | 2024 $67,636 |
| Share of income from benefit checksBEA | 1969 7.4% | 2024 26.6% |
Figures are as each agency published them, not adjusted for prices. We don't chart the distress score over time because it compares counties at one moment.
Dated events in Fremont County's history
Largest decennial census count
The county's largest recorded population was the 2010 Census count of 40,123. The 2020 Census counted 39,234, 98% of the peak. Census Bureau
1884
Created March 5, 1884 from land ceded by Sweetwater County. Wikipedia
2010
Flood: $12 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
2017
Flood: one death. NOAA Storm Events Database
2023
Hail: $3 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
2023
Thunderstorm wind: one death. NOAA Storm Events Database
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Since 2010
5 federal disaster and emergency declarations have covered Fremont County, 3 of them for flooding. FEMA
Storms are listed if they did $1 million or more in damage or killed someone.
Fremont County beside its neighbors
Fremont County scores higher than all eight counties that border it. For the share of income from benefit checks, Fremont County ranks 2nd of the nine; Hot Springs County is highest, at 26.7%.
| County | Score | Poverty | Benefit checks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fremont County, WY | 41 | 12.5% | 26.6% |
| Sweetwater County, WY | 39 | 9.1% | 17.4% |
| Hot Springs County, WY | 33 | 11.5% | 26.7% |
| Natrona County, WY | 31 | 10.7% | 15.8% |
| Carbon County, WY | 18 | 10.8% | 16.6% |
| Park County, WY | 10 | 9.9% | 18.8% |
| Washakie County, WY | 8 | 11.4% | 26.2% |
| Sublette County, WY | 6 | 7.1% | 16.2% |
| Teton County, WY | 0 | 5.4% | 1.8% |
Distress score: American Default Research, County Distress Index, data through Aug 2026; each county scored against all 3,144. Poverty rate: Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates, 2024. Benefit checks: Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2024. Neighbors share a border, from Census county maps.
Is Fremont County the poorest county in Wyoming?
No, Fremont County's poverty rate was 12.5% in 2024, 5th highest of 23 in Wyoming (U.S. Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates). By that measure the poorest county in the state is Albany County, at 15.9%. On our distress index, which counts more than poverty, Fremont County ranks 1st of 23 in the state.
Fremont County in photographs
Places in Fremont County from Wikimedia Commons, each captioned in its photographer's own words.
The Fremont County Courthouse in Lander, Wyoming, from the courthouse lawn.
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Fremont County, Wyoming: common questions
What is the poverty rate in Fremont County, Wyoming?
12.5% in 2024, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates: about one in eight people. Among children it was 14.8%.
Is Fremont County the poorest county in Wyoming?
No, Fremont County's poverty rate was 12.5% in 2024, 5th highest of 23 in Wyoming (U.S. Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates). By that measure the poorest county in the state is Albany County, at 15.9%. On our distress index, which counts more than poverty, Fremont County ranks 1st of 23 in the state.
What is the population of Fremont County, Wyoming?
About 39,721 people in 2024, by the Bureau of Economic Analysis's count. The 2020 Census counted 39,234, 98% of the county's peak of 40,123 in 2010.
How is the County Distress Index calculated?
We rank every U.S. county on 14 federal measures of money trouble, grouped into five equally weighted parts, and average them. The published score is the share of the other 3,143 counties with a lower average. The methodology lists every measure and its source.
If you're behind on your mortgage in Fremont County
A U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development-approved housing counselor works at a nonprofit agency approved by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The counseling to avoid foreclosure is free, and a counselor can help you talk to your mortgage company and understand what it offers, according to the Consumer Financial Protection BureauSourceCFPB.
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Legal Aid of Wyoming, Inc.
Legal aid
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Equal Justice Wyoming
Legal aid
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HUD-approved housing counselors
Counseling to avoid foreclosure is free. Our help directory lists 1,313 approved agencies by state.
The score, its 14 measures and their sources, in one file. Free to use with credit to American Default Research.
Download the CSV for Fremont County · Every U.S. county (CSV)
Sources and method
- American Default Research · County Distress Index Data through Aug 2026, built from HUD Fair Market Rents and Census income; Census Bureau, American Community Survey; Urban Institute, Debt in America; U.S. Courts, Table F-5A; Equifax via the St. Louis Fed; Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates. Our methodology
- U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Economic Accounts (CAINC4) · income shares Where the money in Fremont County comes from, 2024.
- History The agencies named in each row and the linked records above.