Blue Republicans tell us one of the Great Attractors to Wyoming is that we do not have an income tax.
‘Wyoming has no income tax…we have low sales taxes…Wyoming is a low tax state. Come! Come to Wyoming!’
Well, despite no income tax and low sales taxes, according to the United States Census Bureau, Wyoming ranks 2nd to last of the 9 states that have no income tax in population growth (population change July 1, 2020 – June 30, 2025).
1) Florida (8.7% increase in population)
2) Texas (8.5% increase in population)
3) Tennessee (5.6% increase in population)
4) South Dakota (5.3% increase in population)
5) Nevada (5.3% increase in population)
6) Washington (3.5% increase in population)
7) New Hampshire (2.7% increase in population)
8) WYOMING (1.9% increase in population)
9) Alaska (.6% increase in population)
Clearly, the Great Attractor is not working.
I think we can all agree that Alaska probably has an asterisk by their name for why they do not see large increases in their population…
To move to Alaska, it is truly a lifestyle change…it is not a ‘move’…hence, you could argue Wyoming is the ‘worst’ state (of states with no income tax) when it comes to increasing its population.
In addition to the fact that no one is moving to Wyoming, when was the last time you saw a Fortune 500 company pick up their headquarters and move to Wyoming? Isn’t that why we have the Wyoming Business Council?
When large companies are fleeing blue states in record numbers, none of them are coming to Wyoming. Why? If we have low taxes here, certainly companies/people would certainly want to move here. Right?
Other facts about Wyoming’s (lack of) population growth:
1) Wyoming has the 30th lowest population growth (1.9%) of any state since July 1, 2020. The United States has grown 3.1%.
2) There are 22 states with ‘income taxes’ that have higher population % increase than Wyoming. Why are 22 states with income taxes growing faster than Wyoming?
3) There are 10 ‘blue’ states with ‘income taxes’ that have higher population % increase than Wyoming (Delaware, Colorado, Maine, Washington, Connecticut, New Jersey, Virginia, New Hampshire and Minnesota(?!?!?)). Are you kidding me? Minnesota has a higher population % increase than Wyoming?
I think we can finally dispense with the false premise that ‘no income tax’ brings more folks to Wyoming…
The question then becomes WHY?
Why is Wyoming population change so much worse than other parts of the country?
Is it because out of state individuals and companies realize 39% of Wyoming’s K-12 public schools partially meet or do not meet expectations?
Is it because people realize the University of Wyoming saw a 12% DECREASE in their enrollment from 2019 to 2025? (People realize the university is more interested in DEI and indoctrination than in educating our young adults with life skills?).
Despite a 12% decrease in University of Wyoming enrollment from 2019-2025, the state of Wyoming increased its biennial contribution to UW by 40% ($399m in 2019/2020 to $557m in 2025/2026).
The University of Wyoming spent $1.5m in 2023 to reverse the decline in its enrollment. Enrollment declined the following year. Wyoming Solutions for Wyoming Problems.
Remember:
1) Wyoming has the SLOWEST growing GDP of any state in the country since the end of 2018.
2) 46% of Wyomingites live in a county with a DECLINING GDP
3) Wyoming has a median household income that is 8% BELOW the United States median household income
4) Wyoming inflation from 2019-2025 was 8% higher than the United States (34.3% vs. 26.3%)
5) Government is the largest industry in Wyoming (% of GDP)
6) Government is the largest employer in Wyoming
People know wages are lower, inflation is higher, schooling is bad in Wyoming.
Before long, Blue Republicans will tell us we actually DO NOT want people moving to Wyoming…after all, their 2nd favorite motto is “If you ain’t from around here, LEAVE!”
I am not sure Wyoming real estate agents, its construction industry or bankers will agree with that statement, though.
Maybe the Blue Republican favorite motto of ‘Wyoming Solutions for Wyoming Problems’ isn’t working.
It won’t be long before Wyoming Blue Republicans will blame the ‘wind’ as the real reason for why people are not moving to Wyoming.
Even though Wyoming Blue Republicans have never experienced Santa Ana winds in California, prairie winds in North Dakota, South Dakota or Nebraska, or West Texas winds.