The Town FilesLusk, Wyoming
Town in Niobrara County · population 1,541 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $213,000
- Household income
- $68,507
- Jan low / Jul high
- 15° / 88°
- Snow a year
- 51 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 10
- Median age
- 52.1
Lusk is a town of 1,541 people in Niobrara County, Wyoming. The median home is worth $213,000, below the typical Wyoming town ($270,400). It ranks easier by car than 95% of Wyoming towns, quieter than 92% of Wyoming towns, better for first-time buyers than 87% of Wyoming towns.
How Lusk 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 Lusk is worth $213,000, below the typical Wyoming town ($270,400). Homes cost about 3.1 times the median household income of $68,507, which is more affordable than 71% of Wyoming towns. Median rent is $587 a month. 50.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Lusk | Typical Wyoming town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $213,000 | $270,400 |
| Median rent | $587 | $902 |
| Median household income | $68,507 | $69,545 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.1× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 50.8% | 73.2% |
| Median year built | 1956 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.5% | — |
Who lives in Lusk
| People | Lusk | Typical Wyoming town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 52.1 | 39.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 28.4% | 18.2% |
| Under 18 | 11.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 19.5% | 24.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 10.3% | 9.8% |
| Veterans | 12.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 3.8% | 6.2% |
| Average commute | 10.3 min | 17.0 min |
| Homes with broadband | 86.3% | 89.6% |
Weather in Lusk
July highs average 88.0°F and January lows 14.8°F. About 17.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 50.8 inches of snow (typical Wyoming town: 55.7 in). Expect about 41 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 170 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
10 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lusk since 1950, compared with 4 for the typical Wyoming town. The strongest, an F1, struck on May 9, 1977 about 9.0 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 17, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 60 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on July 6, 2025.
Severe weather in Niobrara County since 1996
Niobrara County has been included in 5 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, biological, severe ice storm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| April 11, 2020 | Biological | DR-4535: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3479: Covid-19 |
| July 7, 2015 | Flood | DR-4227: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| February 17, 1999 | Severe Ice Storm | DR-1268: Wy - Winter Storm 10/5/98 |
| May 29, 1978 | Flood | DR-557: Severe Storms, Flooding & Mudslides |
Jobs and pay in Niobrara County
Niobrara County had 810 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $45,079 a year. Unemployment was 2.6% in 2023; in Lusk itself the ACS puts it at 4.9%.
Public schools in Lusk
3 public schools with 855 students, about 11.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Niobrara County High School | 9-12 | 340 | 13.1 |
| Lusk Elementary | PK-5 | 299 | 10.7 |
| Lusk Middle School | 6-8 | 216 | 11.4 |
Lusk questions
Is Lusk, Wyoming a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Lusk scores better for retirees than 75% of Wyoming towns and quieter than 92%. 28.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 52.1).
How much does a house cost in Lusk?
The median owner-occupied home in Lusk is valued at $213,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $68,507, so homes cost about 3.1 times income. Median rent is $587 a month.
What is the weather like in Lusk?
July highs average 88.0°F and January lows 14.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 17.7 inches of precipitation a year and 50.8 inches of snow.
Does Lusk get tornadoes?
10 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lusk since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F1 on May 9, 1977. 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)