1st Advantage MortgageInvestors buying in Powell, WY are measured on the rent the property earns. Locally, median gross rent is $764 and median real estate taxes are $1,845 a year, which together set how much loan a rent can carry.
What the numbers say about Powell
Start with the two numbers every DSCR file turns on. Rent in Powell runs a median $764 a month (about 23% below the Wyoming median of $992), and the median owner-occupied home is worth $289,400. A quick screen: twelve months of Powell median rent over its median home value equals 3.2%, a thin gross ratio, which tells you purchase prices are high relative to rent. Use it to compare markets, then replace it with real rent evidence for the address.
| Indicator | Wyoming | Powell | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual property tax bill, median | $1,767 | $1,845 | +4% |
| Household income, median | $76,176 | $63,523 | -17% |
| Typical owner-occupied value | $309,700 | $289,400 | -7% |
| Typical monthly rent | $992 | $764 | -23% |
| Persons per household | 2.34 | 2.14 | |
| Share in 2-4 unit buildings | 6.4% | 9.0% | +41% |
| Share of homes detached | 67.8% | 70.8% | +4% |
| Long commuters, 45 min plus | 9.7% | 7.7% | -21% |
| Degree holders, age 25+ | 30.6% | 35.6% | +17% |
| Workers on their own account | 11.9% | 14.3% | +20% |
| Renters paying 30%+ of income | 43.1% | 39.3% | -9% |
| Units sitting vacant | 12.2% | 2.1% | -83% |
| Typical construction year | 1981 | 1974 | |
| Households that rent | 28.2% | 30.4% | +8% |
| Residents (Census estimate) | 582,397 | 6,503 |
Owners predominate in Powell (70% of households), leaving renters at 30.4%, close to the Wyoming median of 28%. Against a median household income of $63,523 (about 17% below the Wyoming median of $76,176), 39% of renters report rent at or above 30 percent of income.
Homes, buildings and vacancies in Powell
With 71% of units detached, Powell is a single-family market first. Investors mostly buy houses, and the rent evidence comes from similar houses nearby. The median home was built in 1974, a middle-aged stock where roofs, HVAC and water heaters are the main repair items.
The Census counts 2% of Powell housing units as vacant, with a rental vacancy figure of 6.7%.
How investors should read Powell
Powell's 3.2% rent-to-value ratio is on the lean side, so expect lenders to ask for more cash down on a typical single-family purchase and to scrutinize insurance and tax estimates closely. Housing here is neither new nor ancient, so condition varies widely from block to block and the inspection tells you more than the median. Because only 30% of households rent, vacant units can take longer to lease, and location relative to employers or campuses matters more.
Insurance, tax and flood context for Powell
In Powell the median tax bill for an owner-occupied home is $1,845, or about 0.64% of value (Wyoming overall: 0.57%). That bill is close to the Wyoming median of $1,767. Measured against a year of median rent, taxes eat about 20% before any other cost shows up.
Insurance follows risk. FEMA's National Risk Index lists Park County as relatively low overall, with avalanches (relatively high), lightning (relatively high) and landslides (relatively moderate) as the main drivers.
| Hazard in Park County, FEMA index | Level |
|---|---|
| Cold waves exposure | Relatively Moderate |
| Landslides exposure | Relatively Moderate |
| Lightning exposure | Relatively High |
| Avalanches exposure | Relatively High |
| Social vulnerability score | Relatively Low |
| Annualized loss estimate | Relatively Low |
| Composite risk | Relatively Low |
Insurance belongs in the ratio from day one, so get a landlord quote for the Powell address and ask about roof age, wind or hail deductibles and flood cover.
The ratio in Powell dollars
The quick test for Powell: rent of $764 divided by a 1.25 ratio allows a total payment of $611, and subtracting $154 in monthly taxes leaves $457 for the loan, insurance and dues. At 1.00 the allowance is the full $610.
Rental rules for Powell, WY
Before you underwrite a Powell rental, confirm with city hall and Park County whether landlords must register, pass an inspection or hold a permit, especially for stays under 30 days, because those rules can change what income a lender will count. On lodging taxes, a Powell host should read this first. Wyoming taxes short-term rentals of less than 30 continuous days with state sales tax and a statewide lodging tax plus local taxes, and platforms that act as marketplace facilitators collect and remit for the reservations they handle.
Plan for a 60 day return window on any Powell deposit once the tenant moves out. For Powell rent levels, note that No rent-increase notice requirement and no rent control provision found in W.S. 1-21-1201 to 1-21-1211 (other titles not searched).
Powell against Wyoming peers
Here is how Powell ($289,400) compares with other Wyoming cities we cover, where values run $197,500 in Torrington up to $256,200 in Rock Springs.
| Market | Renter share | Tax bill | Home value | Residents | Rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Riverton | 45% | $1,413 | $219,400 | 10,856 | $921 |
| Rock Springs | 28% | $1,561 | $256,200 | 23,127 | $928 |
| Torrington | 36% | $1,235 | $197,500 | 6,182 | $901 |
| Powell | 30% | $1,845 | $289,400 | 6,503 | $764 |
What fills Powell rentals
14.3% of employed residents work for themselves, which matters here because DSCR lending does not ask for tax returns or pay stubs. Three more data points: government workers are about 29% of employment, 36% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher and 8% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more.
Higher education in and around Powell includes University of Wyoming, which feeds demand for student, staff and faculty housing near campus.
From a Powell listing to a loan
A good Powell file has four pieces: rent evidence, a tax estimate, an insurance quote and cash. Preview the ratio in the calculator, then apply or talk to us.
More Wyoming markets
- All Wyoming DSCR loans
- DSCR loans in Torrington, WY
- DSCR loans in Rock Springs, WY
- DSCR loans in Riverton, WY
- Every market we cover
Where these facts come from
- American Community Survey tables, Wyoming
- FEMA National Risk Index
- Powell on Wikipedia
- W.S. 1-21-1207, 1-21-1208, the Wyoming deposit law
- For nightly stays in Powell: Wyoming Excise Tax Division
The Powell statistics are five-year ACS estimates (2020 to 2024), which have sampling error. Landlord rules for Powell rest on Wyoming statutes and the CC BY 4.0 RedFlagLease dataset. Facts were checked in October 2026, and rules change.
Before you make an offer
For a Powell rental, request the current lease, the last tax bill and the insurance declarations page early, and confirm which utilities the tenant pays, because each one changes the monthly figure a lender compares with the rent.
DSCR loan availability varies by property and lender program and is not an offer to lend. See our disclosures.
Frequently asked questions
How does a lender pick the rent for a Powell DSCR file?
On most files the lender uses the lower of the signed lease rent and the appraiser's market rent for the address in Powell. For orientation, the Census median gross rent here is $764 a month.
What payment can a Powell rent support?
They count in full. A 1.25 ratio on $764 of rent permits a payment near $611, and median Powell taxes take about $154 of it each month.
How much real estate tax do Powell homeowners pay a year?
About $1,845 a year at the median, which is 0.64% of value and close to the Wyoming median of $1,767. Reassessment after a purchase can move that number, so get an estimate for the actual price.
Do DSCR lenders count short-term rental income in Powell?
Depending on the lender, yes, if the property may legally be used that way and income is documented. Confirm the local permit, association rules and Wyoming lodging taxes before you underwrite nightly income in Powell.
Are there deposit limits for Powell rentals?
Start with W.S. 1-21-1207, 1-21-1208. Return window: 60 days. Talk to a Wyoming attorney for a lease form that matches.
Does hazard risk affect a Powell DSCR loan?
At the county level FEMA calls overall risk relatively low. Insurance, not the index, shows up in the ratio, so price a policy for the Powell address.
Is an entity required for a WY DSCR loan?
An individual can borrow too. If you prefer an entity for the Powell purchase, expect to provide formation documents and sign a personal guaranty.