You’d think the least populated state would have enough room between its residents to keep everyone happy and virtually crime-free. Well, that’s not the case for Wyoming’s most dangerous places.
Wyoming has some pretty dangerous places, and we wanted to know just how dangerous, so we consulted the numbers. We compiled a report on the most dangerous place to live in Wyoming for 2026.
Using Saturday Night Science, we analyzed 20 Wyoming cities’ latest FBI crime report for violent and property crime per capita. These cities include every place with over 2,000 residents. Wyoming’s most dangerous places face problems like high unemployment and poverty.
745 violent crimes /100k · 3,944 property crimes /100k · #1 most violent in Wyoming
Located in
Fremont County, WyomingRiverton jumped no change position on this list from last year to “earn” the #1 spot for most dangerous city in Wyoming. That’s because violent crime increased and property crime rose by a similar amount.
While Riverton wasn’t the most violent place in Wyoming in 2024, it did have the third highest rate of rape and highest murder rate statewide. So get home before dark if you’re visiting the Castle Gardens Petroglyph Site, or you might end up the protagonist of a horror movie.
On top of all the violence in Riverton, residents also had a 1 in 25 chance of being the victim of a property crime over 2024. That’s the highest property crime rate in all of Wyoming.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
329 violent crimes /100k · 2,989 property crimes /100k · #4 most violent in Wyoming
Located in
Laramie County, WyomingWyoming’s capital and biggest city, Cheyenne, ranks as the state’s second most dangerous place to call home. Cheyenne’s overall crime rate is more than twice as high as the statewide average.
We hope nobody heists the Wyoming State Museum, because Cheyenne had the state’s second highest property crime rate.
It’s not just a few broken windows and picked pockets going down in Cheyenne either. The city had the fifth highest murder rate in Wyoming, so nobody will blame you for keeping your guard up in Cheyenne.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
389 violent crimes /100k · 1,632 property crimes /100k · #3 most violent in Wyoming
Located in
Uinta County, WyomingStatistically, you have much more to fear from criminals than any wildlife at Bear River State Park if you’re living in Evanston.
While Evanston isn’t crazy violent overall, it did have the distinction of having the highest rate of rape cases in Wyoming. Not exactly something people want to be associated with their hometown.
Property crime in Evanston ranks as the fourth highest in Wyoming. Evanston wasn’t even on this list in years past, so with a little luck, it may not be one of Wyoming’s most dangerous cities by next year.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
289 violent crimes /100k · 2,112 property crimes /100k · #6 most violent in Wyoming
Located in
Natrona County, WyomingKnown for its cowboy culture and oil-rich land, Wyoming’s second biggest city, Casper, also ranks as the fourth most dangerous.
Casper had the third highest murder rate in Wyoming over 2024, as well as the eighth highest rate of rape cases. Overall, violent crime in Casper ranks as the sixth highest statewide.
Property crime is a whole lot more prevalent, with about five property crimes going down each day in Casper. That includes the fourth highest burglary rate in Wyoming and 105 car thefts, so invest in good security systems if you’re moving to Casper.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
497 violent crimes /100k · 1,058 property crimes /100k · #2 most violent in Wyoming
Located in
Goshen County, WyomingLocated in southeast Wyoming, Torrington grew along a railroad route. The founder named the town after his hometown in Connecticut, located about 1,800 miles to the east.
Things can get a little rambunctious in town. Despite its relatively small population of 6,240, Torrington faces the number 2 highest rate of violent crime in the state.
But don’t let that completely color your opinion of the town. It also features plenty of amenities, especially given its rural surroundings. This includes Eastern Wyoming College.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
323 violent crimes /100k · 1,137 property crimes /100k · #5 most violent in Wyoming
Located in
Park County, WyomingWe’re taking our first trip to northwestern Wyoming to reach the state’s sixth most dangerous city, Powell. Powell had a mixed bag of crime numbers this year — violent crime went up by a chunk, while property crime fell by a bit.
We wonder if the frontier life on display at Homesteader Museum was more or less dangerous than current-day Powell.
It’s hard to imagine it was any more dangerous back then, considering residents had a 1 in 310 shot of being the victim of a violent attack over 2024. Overall, Powell had the fifth highest violent crime rate in Wyoming, including the fourth highest rate of rape cases.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
197 violent crimes /100k · 1,519 property crimes /100k · #8 most violent in Wyoming
Located in
Campbell County, WyomingGillette, the seventh most dangerous place to live in Wyoming in 2026, is plagued by a high crime rate, contributing to its unsafe reputation. With a population of 33,503, this city in Campbell County has experienced 66 violent crimes, including 14 rapes, 1 robberies, and 51 aggravated assaults. Regarding property crime, Gillette has seen 509 incidents, including 47 burglaries. These alarming statistics indicate the presence of criminal activity that threatens the safety and well-being of its residents.
In the heart of Wyoming, Gillette is known as the “Energy Capital of the Nation” due to its involvement in the coal, oil, and coalbed methane gas industries. However, with the decline in coal use across the United States, the local economy has suffered, leading to potential economic challenges for the community. Despite these difficulties, there is hope for improvement through proactive measures and community engagement.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
127 violent crimes /100k · 1,278 property crimes /100k · #13 most violent in Wyoming
Located in
Sweetwater County, WyomingThere really was a rock spring near this town in southwest Wyoming. However, later coal mining activity impacted underground water flows and dried out the city’s namesake.
The coal mines also set the stage for the Rock Springs Massacre, an anti-immigrant riot in 1885 that killed more than two dozen people. A bit of this violent spirit has carried over to modern Rock Springs, which ranks as the number 8 most dangerous location in Wyoming. Along with violent crimes, the city endures high rates of robberies and arsons.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
130 violent crimes /100k · 1,164 property crimes /100k · #12 most violent in Wyoming
Located in
Albany County, WyomingLaramie, the ninth most dangerous place to live in Wyoming, faces significant challenges regarding safety and crime. While the murder rate remains relatively low at 0, the prevalence of property crime is concerning, with 377 reported cases, including 60 burglaries.
Despite these concerning statistics, it is important to note that Laramie’s safety can improve with concerted efforts. By addressing the underlying factors contributing to crime and working collaboratively with law enforcement agencies, community leaders, and residents, there is hope for a safer future. Additionally, Laramie’s location within Albany County offers opportunities for outdoor activities and draws outdoor enthusiasts due to its proximity to the Snowy Range and the Laramie Range. With a collective commitment to enhancing safety measures and addressing crime rates, Laramie can strive towards becoming a more secure place to live within the beautiful state of Wyoming.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
136 violent crimes /100k · 989 property crimes /100k · #11 most violent in Wyoming
Located in
Sheridan County, WyomingSheridan is a city in Sheridan County, Wyoming, United States. The 2010 census put the population at 17,444 and a Micropolitan Statistical Area of 29,116. It is the county seat of Sheridan County.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
The receipts
Compare the top ten
Pick a metric. The bars rescale. The red line is Wyoming’s statewide median.
On the map
Where crime hits hardest in Wyoming
Saturday Night Science
How we determined the most dangerous cities in Wyoming for 2026?
Every year the FBI release two crime datasets on cities in Wyoming. First a preliminary dataset limited to the biggest cities in Wyoming, followed by a more detailed release at the end of the year.
For our analysis, we focused on the 2024 data, specifically the 2024 Crime In The United States Report for Wyoming.
So what criteria did we use? Have a look:
- Violent Crimes Per Capita
- Property Crimes Per Capita
In order to make the analysis as apples to apples as possible, we only considered Wyoming cities over 2,000 in population. That left us with 20 cities in Wyoming.
We then ranked each city from 1 to 20 for the two criteria with a #1 ranking being the most dangerous for the particular criteria.
Next, we averaged the two rankings into one “Dangerous Index”.
Finally, we ranked every city on the “Dangerous Index” with the lowest index being the most dangerous in Wyoming — Riverton. Any ties went to the smaller city.
This article is an opinion based on facts and is meant as infotainment. It is our eleventh time ranking the most dangerous places to live in Wyoming and is updated for 2026.
The full plate
Crime By City In Wyoming
Click any column to sort. Search by city name.
| Rank | City | Dangerous Index | Population | Total Crimes Per 100K | Violent Crimes Per 100K | Property Crimes Per 100K | Murders |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Riverton | 1.00 | 11,005 | 4,689 | 745 | 3,944 | 1 |
| 2 | Cheyenne | 3.00 | 65,143 | 3,317 | 329 | 2,989 | 2 |
| 3 | Evanston | 3.50 | 11,823 | 2,021 | 389 | 1,632 | 1 |
| 4 | Casper | 4.50 | 58,526 | 2,401 | 289 | 2,112 | 4 |
| 5 | Torrington | 5.50 | 6,240 | 1,554 | 497 | 1,058 | 0 |
| 6 | Powell | 6.50 | 6,510 | 1,459 | 323 | 1,137 | 0 |
| 7 | Gillette | 6.50 | 33,503 | 1,716 | 197 | 1,519 | 0 |
| 8 | Rock Springs | 9.50 | 22,778 | 1,405 | 127 | 1,278 | 1 |
| 9 | Laramie | 9.50 | 32,400 | 1,293 | 130 | 1,164 | 0 |
| 10 | Sheridan | 10.50 | 19,809 | 1,126 | 136 | 989 | 0 |
| 11 | Cody | 12.00 | 10,306 | 931 | 165 | 767 | 0 |
| 12 | Green River | 12.50 | 11,395 | 851 | 228 | 623 | 0 |
| 13 | Newcastle | 13.00 | 3,316 | 935 | 121 | 814 | 0 |
| 14 | Jackson | 14.00 | 10,592 | 793 | 189 | 604 | 0 |
| 15 | Buffalo | 14.50 | 4,687 | 853 | 85 | 768 | 0 |
| 16 | Douglas | 15.00 | 6,472 | 973 | 62 | 912 | 0 |
| 17 | Worland | 15.50 | 4,796 | 771 | 104 | 667 | 0 |
| 18 | Thermopolis | 17.50 | 2,749 | 728 | 36 | 691 | 0 |
| 19 | Mills | 17.50 | 4,619 | 693 | 65 | 628 | 0 |
| 20 | Glenrock | 18.50 | 2,422 | 372 | 83 | 289 | 0 |
Source: FBI UCR 2024. 20 cities with more than 2,000 residents.
Summary
Summary: Locking It All Up In Wyoming
So what is the most dangerous city in Wyoming? After analyzing 20 cities in Wyoming, Riverton takes the top spot as the most dangerous city in Wyoming based on the most recently reported FBI data — 2024.
The latest FBI crime data shows that Riverton ranks as the most dangerous city in Wyoming for 2026.
The most dangerous cities in Wyoming are Riverton, Cheyenne, Evanston, Casper, Torrington, Powell, Gillette, Rock Springs, Laramie, and Sheridan.
We want to point out again that there’s still safes places in Riverton and that this isn’t a comment on the people that live there. So please don’t beat us up. Not sold on Wyoming? Take the two-minute Find Your Place quiz and see which state actually fits you.
Questions and answers
Most Dangerous Places To Live In Wyoming FAQs
Is Wyoming a dangerous state?
No, Wyoming is not a dangerous state as it ranks as the #10 safest state in the United States based on our analysis of the latest FBI Crime Data. The violent crime rate in Wyoming ranks 43rd most dangerous in the United States — 36.66% better than US average violent crime rate. The property crime rate in the Equality State ranks 35th most dangerous in the United States — 17.59% better than US average property crime rate. The latest reporting year from the FBI was 2022.
Is Cheyenne, WY a dangerous city?
Yes, Cheyenne is a dangerous city. Cheyenne ranks as the #236 most dangerous out of 1433 major cities over 30,000 people in the United States based on our analysis of the latest FBI Crime Data. Keep in mind that are always safe and dangerous parts of any city, so even though Cheyenne might be considered dangerous you still need to be aware of where you are.
Compared to other big cities, the violent crime rate in Cheyenne ranks 74highest in America — 25.49% better than US average violent crime rate. The property crime rate in the ranks 175th highest in the United States — 68.06% worse than US average property crime rate. Note the latest reporting year from the FBI was 2022 and that no city in America is ‘dangerous’. Despite the uptick in murders, it’s nothing like you’d see in Tijuana or Caracas where the murder rate is 2x any American city.
