The Town FilesBasin, Wyoming
Town in Big Horn County · population 1,288 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $157,300
- Household income
- $65,515
- Jan low / Jul high
- 9° / 93°
- Snow a year
- 20 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 11
- Median age
- 42.5
Basin is a town of 1,288 people in Big Horn County, Wyoming. The median home is worth $157,300, below the typical Wyoming town ($270,400). It ranks quieter than 95% of Wyoming towns, better for retirees than 89% of Wyoming towns, easier by car than 86% of Wyoming towns.
How Basin 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 Basin is worth $157,300, below the typical Wyoming town ($270,400). Homes cost about 2.4 times the median household income of $65,515, which is more affordable than 91% of Wyoming towns. Median rent is $903 a month. 72.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Basin | Typical Wyoming town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $157,300 | $270,400 |
| Median rent | $903 | $902 |
| Median household income | $65,515 | $69,545 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.4× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 72.0% | 73.2% |
| Median year built | 1961 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.4% | — |
Who lives in Basin
| People | Basin | Typical Wyoming town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.5 | 39.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 20.9% | 18.2% |
| Under 18 | 14.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 24.5% | 24.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 14.9% | 9.8% |
| Veterans | 15.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.2% | — |
| Work from home | 0.4% | 6.2% |
| Average commute | 14.7 min | 17.0 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.3% | 89.6% |
Weather in Basin
July highs average 92.7°F and January lows 8.8°F. About 7.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 20.1 inches of snow (typical Wyoming town: 55.7 in). Expect about 49 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 176 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Basin since 1950, compared with 4 for the typical Wyoming town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on July 4, 1978 about 8.6 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 26, 2001.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 9 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on August 7, 2009.
Severe weather in Big Horn County since 1996
Big Horn County has been included in 4 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, biological, severe storm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| May 29, 1978 | Flood | DR-557: Severe Storms, Flooding & Mudslides |
Jobs and pay in Big Horn County
Big Horn County had 4,241 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $51,909 a year. Unemployment was 3.3% in 2023; in Basin itself the ACS puts it at 0%.
Public schools in Basin
2 public schools with 232 students, about 8.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Riverside Middle/High School | 6-12 | 126 | 7.4 |
| Laura Irwin Elementary | PK-5 | 106 | 9.6 |
Towns near Basin
- Greybull, WY7.3 mi · 1,651 people · home $169,600
- Worland, WY25.2 mi · 4,773 people · home $185,300
Basin questions
Is Basin, Wyoming a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Basin scores better for retirees than 89% of Wyoming towns and quieter than 95%. 20.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 42.5).
How much does a house cost in Basin?
The median owner-occupied home in Basin is valued at $157,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $65,515, so homes cost about 2.4 times income. Median rent is $903 a month.
What is the weather like in Basin?
July highs average 92.7°F and January lows 8.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 7.2 inches of precipitation a year and 20.1 inches of snow.
Does Basin get tornadoes?
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Basin since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on July 4, 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)