Crook County, WY Insulation Payback
Is attic insulation worth it in Crook County, WY?
DOE classifies Crook County as climate zone 6, cold — winters that dominate the energy bill, with cooling a minor factor. Its recommended attic R-value for bare joists is R-60. For an attic around 1,000 square feet, closing the gap from R-2 to R-60 costs around $3,480 and saves an estimated $2,146 a year — payback in roughly 1.6 years. Few home upgrades pay back that quickly.
Heating vs. cooling in Crook County
Heating accounts for about $2,068/year of that and cooling about $78/year — Crook County needs both. Nationally, Crook County ranks in the 88th percentile for insulation savings potential. Compared only against its own climate zone, Crook County places 243rd out of 459. Against Wyoming's own average of $2,161/year, Crook County runs 1% below that.
The climate data behind this
The heating and cooling degree days behind this estimate — 7,734 HDD and 486 CDD (base 65°F, 1991-2020 normals) — come from HULETT, WY US, the nearest NOAA station with published normals, 6.9 miles from Crook County's center. Combined heating and cooling load puts Crook County in the 88th percentile of this 3,162-county dataset. Its moisture regime is classified dry, which matters for whether the attic needs a vapor retarder as part of the job — worth asking a contractor about locally.
Already have some insulation?
A shallower starting point changes the math: with R-11 already down, only the gap to R-49 needs filling, at roughly $2,280 for an estimated $313/year saved (~7.3-year payback). The math clears comfortably within a normal ownership horizon.
Getting it done in Crook County
Get more than one quote before committing. Attic access and any needed air sealing move the price around, and most contractors won't take a job below roughly $600 regardless of size - worth asking upfront given Crook County's estimated $2,146/year on the line.
Crook County's numbers, sourced
The methodology guide lists exactly which DOE and NOAA sources feed Crook County's numbers, and where the cost assumptions come from. See the DIY vs. contractor guide for whether a job this size is realistic to do yourself.