The 10 Best Places To Live In Wyoming For 2022


These are the cream of the crop in the Cowboy State.

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Wyoming is best known for its cowboys and cowgirls, the mountains in Jackson, the world’s largest rodeo in Cheyenne, and some of the best places in the country to call home.

And lucky for you, HomeSnacks has done the research and created the ultimate guide for finding the best places in the Equality State for 2019.

How did we do it? We consulted the latest Census data on cost of living, median income, and safety, for places with 2,000 or more residents. We discovered that Wyoming has every type of city for every type of person. Big Wyoming has hip millennial cities like Laramie, cowboy/cowgirl cities like Casper, and mountain cities like Hoback are great places to find work, raise families, and just plain enjoy life.

And if that doesn’t seal the deal, check out our best states to raise a family and safest states in the country stories: Wyoming crushes the competition. So, whether you’re a Sheridan University Bruin fan, or a fan of Wyoming’s State Rodeo in Douglas, or just a fan of conservative politics, there’s a city in Wyoming for you.

How did we determine the best places to live in Wyoming? Grab a Wyoming Boilermaker and an elk burger in Gillette and read on.

The 10 Best Places To Live In Wyoming For 2022

  1. Cody
  2. Sheridan
  3. Star Valley Ranch
  4. Kemmerer
  5. Lander
  6. Bar Nunn
  7. Jackson
  8. Pinedale
  9. Cheyenne
  10. Green River

Wyoming cities are known for their quirky, western culture, iconic rodeos, local flare, and farm to table restaurants. And, don’t get us started on their gold star median household income and blue ribbon schools.

Needless to say, it was very difficult to narrow down 30 of Wyoming’s best places to live to just ten.

What city is the best place to live in Wyoming for 2022? Well according to the US Census and FBI data we crunched, Cody is the best place to live in Wyoming if you care about home values, low crime, and a high quality of life.

If you’re looking for something more national, check out the best states in America or the best places to live in America.

For more Wyoming reading, check out:

The 10 Best Places To Live In Wyoming For 2022

We move from the city where Buffalo Bill had an inn to the city that Buffalo Bill helped found, Cody. Known as the “Wild West way into Yellowstone,” Cody is just 50 miles from the east entrance of Yellowstone National Park. If you’re looking for a shorter day-trip out in nature, there’s also Shoshone National Forest and Buffalo Bill State Park in the area. But if you want a blast from the past, head to Old Trail Town, an authentic frontier town with buildings from the 1890s.

Cody might have a rollicking, rough and tumble cowboy past, but today it’s quite safe. The unemployment rate ranks as the 2nd lowest in Wyoming at 0.9%. The student-teacher ratio in Cody’s schools is a solid 12:1, and test scores are much higher than the statewide average. The median age in Cody is 40, making it the oldest city on this list. Hate the drive to and from work? Well, at an average of 12 minutes, folks in Cody enjoy the 5th shortest commute time in Wyoming.

Overall SnackAbility

8.5
/10

Population: 9,810
Rank Last Year: 1 (No Change)
Median Home Value: $240,300
Unemployment Rate: 0.9%
More on Cody: Real Estate | Crime Report | Cost Of Living

Cody, WY

Sheridan is a city of 17,938 in north-central Wyoming with a strong rodeo culture. Anyone with a cowboy fascination will go nuts for King’s Saddlery & Museum and their collection of Old West artifacts, and Buffalo Bill’s inn is still running in Sheridan to this day. The landscape around Sheridan is simply incredible, with stunning mountainscape views that would make an artist blush. Those who want a closer look and a bit of a workout will find all of the above at Bighorn National Park to the west of Sheridan.

For those moving with a family, know that Sheridan has excellent public schools that trounce the statewide average in test scores and graduation rates. GreatSchools gave the district an average score of 7.5, and two local high schools received College Success Awards. Unemployment in Sheridan is crazy low, and the poverty rate here is the 17th lowest in the state. Homes in Sheridan are the 7th most expensive in Wyoming, but rent is quite affordable at around $840/month.

Overall SnackAbility

8
/10

Population: 17,938
Rank Last Year: 3 (Up 1)
Median Home Value: $235,600
Unemployment Rate: 4.7%
More on Sheridan: Real Estate | Crime Report | Cost Of Living

Sheridan, WY

Overall SnackAbility

5
/10

Population: 2,191
Rank Last Year:
Median Home Value: $308,900
Unemployment Rate: 2.8%
More on Star Valley Ranch: Real Estate

We begin our tour of the best places to live in Wyoming with Kemmerer, the hub of activity for southern Lincoln County. Known as “The Fossil Capital of the World,” Kemmerer has loads of opportunities for the aspiring archaeologist, or just chances to hike through dead dino land at Fossil Butte National Monument. Kemmerer even has a festival dedicated to fossils. If you want an event dedicated to livelier pursuits, Kemmerer also hosts the Oyster Ridge Music Festival, Wyoming’s largest free music festival.

With its dinosaurs galore, it’s no wonder that Kemmerer topped our list of the best cities for families in Wyoming. It also helps that the crime rate in Kemmerer is roughly 75% below the national average and ranks as the 2nd in Wyoming. The economy in Kemmerer is also rock-solid, with a sub-1% unemployment rate and the 9th lowest poverty rate in the state at 7.1%. And while the median household income in Kemmerer is the 14th highest in Wyoming at $63,861/year, you won’t find cheaper homes on this list than Kemmerer’s $143,000.

Overall SnackAbility

8.5
/10

Population: 2,758
Rank Last Year: 2 (Down 2)
Median Home Value: $143,000
Unemployment Rate: 0.9%
More on Kemmerer: Real Estate | Crime Report

Kemmerer, WY

Located in Wind River Country in central Wyoming, Lander is our final stand-out city. Epic rock climbing, hiking, and fishing are all on offer at the city’s pride and joy, Sinks Canyon State Park. We just hope you like to party, because between Lander Brewfest, a celebration of local craft brewers, and Riverfest, dedicated to local artists and musicians, there’s never a dull moment in Lander. That’s part of why Lander is considered one of Wyoming’s best cities for singles.

Lander is a truly peaceful place; the city experienced exactly zero violent crimes in the last year of available data. Unemployment is sub-3%, the poverty rate is the 13th lowest in Wyoming, and schools are top-notch. If you want to give Lander a try, rent will set you back around $973/month, but if you want to settle down here for good, a typical home will cost around $239,400.

Overall SnackAbility

8
/10

Population: 7,533
Rank Last Year: 4 (Down 1)
Median Home Value: $239,400
Unemployment Rate: 2.4%
More on Lander: Real Estate | Crime Report | Cost Of Living

Lander, WY

A northern suburb of Casper, Bar Nunn is the 6th best place to live in Wyoming. Being next to the big city comes with some perks, like having sweet museums nearby. There’s the Tate Geological Museum for those interested in gaining mammoth amounts of information, while the National Historic Trails Interpretive Center is a must-visit for anyone who wants to learn how to avoid dying next time they play the Oregon Trail video game.

The median age in Bar Nunn is a young 29, so expect a lot of fresh ideas in this vibrant community. The poverty level in Bar Nunn is a measly 3.2%, the 2nd lowest in Wyoming. Bar Nunn’s median household income of $95,294/year ranks as the highest statewide. Which is good, when you’re paying the 3rd highest price for a home anywhere in Wyoming.

Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 2,786
Rank Last Year: 6 (No Change)
Median Home Value: $243,900
Unemployment Rate: 6.7%
More on Bar Nunn: Real Estate

Located at the south end of Grand Teton National Park, Jackson is a thriving town with an absolute abundance of recreational opportunities. There’s a museum dedicated to wildlife art, but if you’d prefer a closer, realer look at some regional animals, there’s also the National Elk Refuge. Nearby Jackson Hole hosts regular rodeos for anyone trying to immerse themselves in cowboy culture. Rendevous Mountain provides some of the toughest skiing in the country, but those just looking to relax within the city limits will find plenty to love at and around Jackson’s Town Square.

Before you move to Jackson, you should know that it topped both our list of Wyoming’s richest and most expensive cities, so make sure you’ve got a lucrative job lined up before making the move. A typical household in Jackson brings back $76,518/year, the highest median income in the state. And there are clearly enough opportunities to go around because Jackson ranks among the fastest growing places in Wyoming. Living in Wyoming most densely populated place, having low unemployment and poverty rates, and fantastic local schools are all reasons why people are willing to live with Jackson’s higher cost of living.

Overall SnackAbility

8
/10

Population: 10,585
Rank Last Year: 5 (Down 2)
Median Home Value: $702,700
Unemployment Rate: 1.4%
More on Jackson: Real Estate | Cost Of Living

Jackson, WY

Source: Public domain

Situated on the Wyoming Centennial Scenic Byway, against the western slope of the Wind River Mountain Range, Pinedale comes in as the state’s 8th best place. Pinedale is known as the Land of the Lakes, with over 1,300 named lakes. King among those is Fremont Lake, Wyoming’s second biggest lake, complete with fishing, boating, and water-sport opportunities aplenty. Snowsports-enthusiasts will also be delighted to have White Pine Ski Area right in their backyard.

Pinedale has award-winning schools that have achieved the lowest high school dropout rate in Wyoming. It’s no accident these schools succeed; Pinedale spends about 80% more per student than the statewide average. The average commute time is a measly 11 minutes, the 2nd shortest anywhere in Wyoming. Pinedale’s poverty rate ranks as the lowest statewide, while Pinedale’s median household income of $86,447 is the 2nd highest in Wyoming.

Overall SnackAbility

7
/10

Population: 2,173
Rank Last Year:
Median Home Value: $235,900
Unemployment Rate: 5.8%
More on Pinedale: Real Estate

Pinedale, WY

Overall SnackAbility

8
/10

Population: 64,099
Rank Last Year: 11 (Up 2)
Median Home Value: $229,100
Unemployment Rate: 5.0%
More on Cheyenne: Real Estate | Crime Report | Cost Of Living

Cheyenne, WY

Outside of Wyoming, a town of 12,025 people would seem pretty small. But that population makes Green River the 7th biggest communities in the state. Thanks to a thriving mining industry and a prime location in the southwestern part of the state, the area also ranks as one of Wyoming’s best places to live.

Founded as a railroad town in the 1860s, Green River’s economy is now propped up by the mining industry. At the same time, it forms an important travel hub. I-80, which follows the path of the first transcontinental railroad, passes right through town.

Bolstered by these economic assets, residents of Green River have the 4th highest level of median income in Wyoming, with a figure of $80,871. The median home value comes in at $221,800.

If you’re in Green River, prepare to be overwhelmed by the region’s gorgeous geological formations, including the imposing Castle Rock. Rocks not your thing? Try Green River’s Flaming Gorge Days, a music and sports festival that takes place every June.

Overall SnackAbility

8
/10

Population: 12,025
Rank Last Year: 9 (Down 1)
Median Home Value: $221,800
Unemployment Rate: 6.0%
More on Green River: Real Estate | Crime Report | Cost Of Living

Green River, WY

Mapping The Best And Worst Places To Live in Wyoming

The Pressing Question: Size

Before we even started to collect data, we had to answer a tough question: Is it fair to pit Cheyenne with a population of 64,099 against places with a population of 18?

We firmly decided no, that just isn’t fair.

So to create our ranking, we broke places to live into three tiers:

  • Cities — Populations over 2,000
  • Towns — Populations between 1,000 and 2,000
  • Small Towns — Populations below 1,000

This left us with 30 cities, 25 towns, and 75 small towns.

We then decided, no matter how much anyone loves their town, the best cities to live in Wyoming have more of everything and therefore you need to have over 2,000 people to truly be ‘the best’.

Now we also realize that city living might not be your cup of tea, so we ran the following analysis on towns and then again for small towns.

You can see those two top tens at the bottom of the post.

Methodology: How We Calculated The Best Cities To Live In Wyoming

Now that we had our set of cities, it was time to rank them.

We ranked each place in Wyoming across a number of criteria from one to 30, with one being the best.

We then took the average rank across all criteria, with the city posting the lowest overall score being crowned the winner of the title “Best Place To Live In Wyoming”.

The criteria we looked at were:

  • Median Home Values
  • Median Income
  • Population Density (Higher better)
  • Unemployment Rate
  • Commute Time
  • Crime
  • Education Levels
  • Health Insurance Coverage
  • Poverty rates

Sources of criteria include the New Census Data and FBI Crime Data. You can download the data here.

After the dust settled, what was the best place to live in Wyoming? That would be Cody.

If your city or town isn’t among the top 10, jump down to the bottom of the post to see a detailed chart of the best places in Wyoming.

Otherwise, buckle up for a ride down good living lane with Cody at the end of the cul-de-sac.

Summary: The Best Places When It Comes To Living In Wyoming

If you’re looking at areas in Wyoming with the best economic situations, where there’s lower than average crime, and a lot to do, this is an accurate list.

Cody made a strong showing to take in the overall number one spot for the best place to live in Wyoming for 2022.

Best Towns To Live In Wyoming

  1. Rafter J Ranch (Pop. 1,466)
  2. South Park (Pop. 1,557)
  3. Sleepy Hollow (Pop. 1,080)
  4. Moose Wilson Road (Pop. 1,736)
  5. Antelope Valley-Crestview (Pop. 1,498)
  6. Vista West (Pop. 1,016)
  7. Dayton (Pop. 1,008)
  8. Marbleton (Pop. 1,357)
  9. Mountain View (Pop. 1,333)
  10. Sundance (Pop. 1,310)

Best Small Towns To Live In Wyoming

  1. Taylor (Pop. 60)
  2. Hyattville (Pop. 55)
  3. Hill View Heights (Pop. 58)
  4. Brookhurst (Pop. 183)
  5. Grover (Pop. 283)
  6. Fairview (Pop. 488)
  7. Casper Mountain (Pop. 461)
  8. Elk Mountain (Pop. 172)
  9. Cokeville (Pop. 555)
  10. Hartville (Pop. 74)

If you’re curious enough, here are the worst places to live in Wyoming according to the data:

  1. Evansville (Pop. 2,974)
  2. Evanston (Pop. 11,727)
  3. Riverton (Pop. 10,913)

For more Wyoming reading, check out:

Where Are The Best Places To Live In Wyoming?

Rank City Population Unemployment Rate Home Value
1 Cody 9,810 0.9% $240,300
2 Sheridan 17,938 4.7% $235,600
3 Star Valley Ranch 2,191 2.8% $308,900
4 Kemmerer 2,758 0.9% $143,000
5 Lander 7,533 2.4% $239,400
6 Bar Nunn 2,786 6.7% $243,900
7 Jackson 10,585 1.4% $702,700
8 Pinedale 2,173 5.8% $235,900
9 Cheyenne 64,099 5.0% $229,100
10 Green River 12,025 6.0% $221,800
11 Douglas 6,369 3.5% $209,800
12 Gillette 32,513 3.8% $217,400
13 Casper 58,287 4.0% $213,900
14 Laramie 32,515 4.3% $225,400
15 Rawlins 8,716 6.0% $180,500
16 Buffalo 4,606 2.6% $227,800
17 Thermopolis 2,747 2.6% $157,600
18 Lovell 2,322 8.0% $162,000
19 Rock Springs 23,238 5.0% $205,300
20 Wheatland 3,543 2.1% $172,800
21 Worland 5,112 5.6% $152,000
22 Powell 6,238 5.8% $198,300
23 Glenrock 2,576 13.6% $194,400
24 Newcastle 3,395 4.7% $136,700
25 Torrington 6,597 7.1% $160,800
26 Greybull 2,145 12.7% $117,900
27 Mills 3,955 6.8% $126,200
28 Evansville 2,974 5.2% $194,800
29 Evanston 11,727 5.4% $169,300
30 Riverton 10,913 7.2% $156,700

How Is Your Town In ?

Editor’s Note: We updated this article for 2022. This is our ninth time ranking the best places to live in Wyoming.

About Chris Kolmar

Chris Kolmar has been in the real estate business for almost ten years now. He originally worked for Movoto Real Estate as the director of marketing before founding HomeSnacks.

He believes the key to finding the right place to live comes down to looking at the data, reading about things to do, and, most importantly, checking it out yourself before you move.

If you've been looking for a place to live in the past several years, you've probably stumbled upon his writing already.

You can find out more about him on LinkedIn or his website.