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Housing Need

Laramie builds just an average of 60 homes a year.

 

The rising costs of living and limited availability of affordable, secure homes increasingly threaten the stability and well-being of families, seniors, workers, and the broader community we serve. 

TIMELINE

2015-2020

1,538 housing units needed | 362 units built

(2015 Laramie, WY Housing Study vs. Building Permit Data)​ 

2020-2024

1,310 housing units needed | 215 units built

(2015 Laramie, WY Housing Study vs. Building Permit Data) 

2024-2030

1,258 housing units needed | TBD units built

(2015 Laramie, WY Housing Study vs. Building Permit Data)​ 

*Number of units needed lower due to the 2015 plan operating under the assumption that the 2,800 units between 2015-2024 would be built

Newest Dataset 2024 WY Housing Needs Assessment

2021-2030

2,504 - 3,721 housing units needed |

215 units built 

(2024 WY Housing Needs Assessment) 

Data Directory

​Laramie References:

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  • Laramie Housing Study—2030 (Hanna:Keelan, 2015). Full needs assessment with unit projections, product mix, & downtown unit targets. City of Laramie 

  • Albany County Housing Report (2018). Countywide demographics, tenure, cost-burden/affordability indicators using ACS. City of Laramie+1 

  • Thrive Laramie (2020). City economic strategy that elevates workforce housing as a top action area (links housing to employer growth). City of Laramie 

  • Laramie Housing Strategy (Community Builders, 2020). Action playbook (missing-middle focus), used to drive UDC changes; paired with a Code Audit (2020). City of Laramie 

  • Laramie Growth Area Plan (adopted Aug 1, 2023). Joint City-County growth capacity, utilities/fiscal appendices—useful for unit capacity and service constraints at the fringe. City of Laramie 

  • North 4th Street (Urban Renewal / Redevelopment). Area plan and URA materials citing downtown unit needs and setting up TIF to deliver mixed-income supply. City of Laramie+1 

  • Comprehensive Plan (2007; update “Forge Laramie 2045” in progress, 2025-2026). Current policy baseline; the update will include fresh housing analysis. City of Laramie 

  • City “Housing Status Report” (April 22, 2025). One-stop summary slide deck tying the above studies together and noting 2024–2025 state reports. City of Laramie+1 

  • Albany County Housing Coalition 2025 Community Survey. A 600+ respondent survey on Laramie's housing needs and desires. Internal Document

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Statewide & Regional References with Laramie/Albany County Breakouts:

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  • Wyoming Statewide Housing Needs Assessment (WCDA, 2024). County-level demand, affordability, constraints, & projections. WCDA 

  • Wyoming Statewide Strategic Housing Action Plan (WCDA, 2025). Strategy doc that cites Laramie’s local plans and rolls needs into statewide actions. WCDA 

  • Wyoming Housing Conditions (2017). Assessor-based stock quality/age profiles by county (good for rehab/quality narratives). WCDA 

  • WBC CEDS (2024). Economic framework that reinforces workforce-housing needs for business growth. Wyoming Business Council 

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University of Wyoming Sources (student demand signal):

 

  • UW Housing Master Plan / housing updates. On-campus capacity and enrollment trends—key for student demand spillover. University of Wyoming 

  • UW Haub School ENR 4950 FORGE Laramie Final Report. A 2026 300+ respondent survey of University of Wyoming, WyoTech, and Laramie County Community College students focused on retaining these students as they transition to workforce. Internal Document

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Core Datasets Used to Quantify “Need” (inputs for your own dashboards): 

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  • HUD CHAS (latest 2017–2021 release, Sep 2024): Cost burden, severe burden, overcrowding by tenure/income—Albany County geographies. HUD User

  • ACS tables (e.g., B25140, B25105): Cost-as-%-of-income, median monthly housing costs—city/county cuts. Census Data+1 

  • Wyoming Community Development Authority Opportunities: Different funding and incentive opportunities, including CDBG. WCDA 

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