Wyoming is still gaining residents, but the real story isn’t how many people are moving in — it’s how quickly the state’s population is aging. Births are barely keeping up with deaths, and with fewer young people to replace them, Wyoming is entering a new era where older residents are quietly reshaping the economy, communities, and the future of the state itself.

According to the latest U.S. Census estimates, Wyoming’s population reached about 588,753 in July 2025, an increase of just over 2,000 people from a year earlier. That works out to about 0.3 percent growth — still upward, but slow. And most of that growth is coming from people moving here, not babies being born. Natural growth — the difference between births and deaths — added fewer than 300 people during the year. That reflects years of lower birth rates and a growing number of older residents.

Wyoming’s aging trend is among the fastest in the country.

The number of residents age 65 and older grew at a faster rate than the overall population, making the state’s median age rise more quickly than the national average. Analysts say this is driven by the large baby boomer cohort moving into retirement and by younger generations leaving the state.

Wenlin Liu, chief economist with the state’s Economic Analysis Division, bluntly described the demographic shift: the state’s older population is growing fast, while outmigration of young people and lower birth rates continue to shrink the pool of working-age Wyomingites. That’s already contributing to labor shortages in key sectors.

The trend is real and concerning.

Josh Dorrell, CEO of the Wyoming Business Council, has warned lawmakers that Wyoming faces a “chicken‑and‑egg” problem: there aren’t enough jobs to keep young people here, and without more young people it’s harder to build the kinds of economies that create jobs in the first place. “We don’t have enough people to attract the jobs and we don’t have enough jobs to attract the people,” Dorrell told a legislative committee last summer.

Surveys of Wyoming residents mirror that concern. A recent poll presented to county officials found that most voters want stronger action to grow local economies and create opportunities to keep young people from leaving. Dorrell noted that two out of every three Wyoming‑born adults move away by their mid‑20s, often because they can’t find the jobs they want close to home.

The demographic shift carries consequences beyond just census numbers. An aging population has different needs — more health care services, more senior‑friendly housing, more support systems — while the shrinking share of younger adults can shrink the labor force available for schools, hospitals, factories and small businesses.

Despite the state’s strong job market — with unemployment remaining low — leaders worry about what happens next when more boomers retire and fewer young workers are around to replace them.

Wyoming’s growth story may still be positive on the surface, but the deeper reality is that the Cowboy State is aging faster than it’s growing younger. That shift is already changing communities from Cheyenne to Sheridan, and may have long‑lasting effects on the state’s economy, schools, and way of life in the years ahead.

LARAMIE — Wyoming heads back on the road Wednesday night for a 7 p.m. Mountain West matchup at Utah State, marking the 93rd all-time meeting between the longtime conference rivals.

The game will be televised on CBS Sports Network. Fans can listen to the game across the Cowboy Sports Network’s 26 radio affiliates with Keith Kelley calling play-by-play and Kevin McKinney providing color commentary. In Sweetwater County, you can listen to the game on KUGR 104.9 FM

The Cowboys enter the contest at 12-8 overall and 3-6 in conference play after a 66-62 home win over San Jose State on Saturday. Wyoming is averaging 79.6 points per game, fourth in the Mountain West, while allowing 72.2 points per contest. The Cowboys are shooting 47 percent from the field and lead the conference at 37.5 rebounds per game, including more than 12 offensive rebounds per outing.

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Utah State comes in with a 16-3 overall record and a 7-2 mark in league play. The Aggies lead the Mountain West in scoring at 83.7 points per game and are allowing 68.3 points per night. Utah State is shooting 51 percent from the field, one of the top marks nationally and best in the conference, while holding opponents to 41 percent. The Aggies also average 17.7 assists per game.

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Wyoming is led by Leland Walker, who is averaging 15.1 points per game along with a team-high 3.7 assists per contest, ranking fifth in the conference. Walker scored a career-high 30 points against Boise State last week. Nasir (Naz) Meyer is contributing 13.7 points and 5.2 rebounds per game while shooting 40 percent from 3-point range. Khaden Bennett is averaging 9.2 points and 4.6 rebounds per game and ranks fourth in the Mountain West at better than 85 percent from the free throw line.

Utah State’s MJ Collins leads the Mountain West in scoring at 19.3 points per game while shooting 50 percent from the field and 42 percent from beyond the arc with 42 made 3-pointers. Mason Falslev adds 16.5 points per game and a team-high 5.9 rebounds while shooting 52 percent from the field.

Wyoming is 18-25 all-time at Utah State, with its last win in Logan coming in 2022. The Aggies won both meetings last season, with the two games decided by a combined seven points.

Wyoming returns home Saturday to host Colorado State in the first edition of the Border War at 7:30 p.m. inside the Arena-Auditorium.