Cheyenne receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
Cheyenne
Idaho Falls
Opportunity
61 · Top 39%
vs62 · Top 35%
Growth
58 · Top 37%
vs65 · Top 26%
Climate
58 · Bottom 20%
vs54 · Bottom 8%
Physical resilience
75 · Top 22%
vs67 · Top 33%
Housing affordability
85 · Bottom 26%
vs82 · Bottom 22%
Access
98 · Top 5%
vs91 · Top 22%
Economic stability
92 · Top 3%
vs83 · Top 10%
Measured values
| Metric | Cheyenne | Idaho Falls | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 101,060 | 165,361 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $80,173 | $80,291 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $42,871 | $34,977 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 38/sq mi | 32/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $348,700 | $372,100 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,160 | $1,127 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 70.6% | 73.9% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 2.7% | 3.2% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -2.9% | -2.9% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 33.1% | 31.7% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 8.9% | 9.9% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 594 | 1,596 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 5.9 | 9.7 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 17.6% | -30.2% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 84°F | 87°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 18°F | 12°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 15.4" | 10.1" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 12 mi | 19 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 18.8 min | 22.9 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 38.5 | 33.5 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
Cheyenne
Elevated or high exposure: wildfire.
Idaho Falls
Elevated or high exposure: earthquake.
Your best match
Weight what matters to you. Your preferences stay in this browser and never change either Area Score.
Cheyenne
75
Your Score
70
Area Score
Idaho Falls
72
Your Score
68
Area Score
Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: Cheyenne, WY Metro Area · Idaho Falls, ID Metro Area · How this is calculated: methodology