The best places to live in Wyoming are known for their cowboys and cowgirls, the proximity to mountains around Jackson, and being close to the world’s largest rodeo in Cheyenne.
The best Wyoming has to offer.
But how did we determine Wyoming’s best cities? We consulted the latest Census, FBI, and Zillowdata on factors like incomes, crimes, and home prices for the 31 places with 2,000 or more residents.
Grab a Wyoming Boilermaker and an elk burger in Gillette and read on for more details into the best places to live in Wyoming.
$118,991 median income · $1,932,344 median home · #1 best place in Wyoming
Located in
Teton County, WyomingLocated 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 $118,991/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.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
$96,071 median income · $658,782 median home · #2 best place in Wyoming
Star Valley Ranch is another great place to live in Wyoming about an hour south of Jackson, WY on the Idaho border. It’s a family friendly town with the Aspen Hills Golf Course for adults and Fox Run Park for the kids.
As a rural town of population 2,007, you have access to the beautiful outdoors all around you. There are plenty of hikes and fishing to be done in the surrounding area. There’s no traffic, so you won’t have to wait to get back to your family after a hard day’s work.
On the numbers side of things, Star Valley Ranch is part of the Lincoln County School District which offers your kids a solid education. There’s basically no crime in town and the city ranks 3rd for incomes and 2nd for home prices in the Equality State.
$72,570 median income · $458,576 median home · #3 best place in Wyoming
Located in
Park County, WyomingWe 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 10th lowest in Wyoming at 3.4%. 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 42, making it the oldest city on this list. Hate the drive to and from work? Well, at an average of 9 minutes, folks in Cody enjoy the 2nd shortest commute time in Wyoming.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
$62,867 median income · $432,885 median home · #4 best place in Wyoming
Located in
Sheridan County, WyomingSheridan is a city of 19,285 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 2lowest in the state. Homes in Sheridan are the 6th most expensive in Wyoming, but rent is quite affordable at around $936/month.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
$63,586 median income · $482,024 median home · #5 best place in Wyoming
Afton, located in Lincoln County, Wyoming, is a picturesque town known for its low cost of living and charming community. The median home price is $482,024, making it an affordable option for settling down. The town also offers top-notch education through its well-regarded Lincoln County School District.
Residents of Afton enjoy a variety of recreational activities and attractions. The town is home to the world’s largest arch made of elk antlers, spanning 75 feet across U.S. Highway 89. This iconic landmark adds to the unique character of Afton. Additionally, the town is situated in Star Valley, a beautiful grassland valley surrounded by forested mountains. Outdoor enthusiasts can take advantage of the stunning natural landscapes by exploring hiking trails or engaging in fishing and camping opportunities.
$78,839 median income · $387,234 median home · #6 best place in Wyoming
Located in
Laramie County, WyomingCheyenne ranks as the 6th best place to live in Wyoming. Cheyenne is a northeastern suburb of Washington DC, about 7 miles from the city center — a great location for a great town.
Housing is 9th highest in the state, meaning that many people want to live here. And you can see that people are willing to pay for a piece of real estate as incomes are 8th highest in the state. Cheyenne is part of the Prince George’s County Public Schools, which ranks highly according to US News rankings of schools in Wyoming. Add to that a low crime rate and a perennial contender for the best place to live in Wyoming.
The David C. Driskell Community Park has a pool, various ball fields and courts, and a great playground. And Sugar Vault Desserts & Bakery has some of the best cinnamon buns you’ll ever have. There’s also plenty of shopping in town at the Shoppes at Art District.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
$62,629 median income · $409,842 median home · #7 best place in Wyoming
If you’re after a small-town Wyoming community without the Jackson-sized price tag, Buffalo is surprisingly the answer. With just 4,572 residents and a median household income of $62,629, life here moves at a genuinely unhurried pace. No, really.
Homes hover around $409,842, which puts small-town mountain living squarely within reach for most residents. The Bighorn Mountains sit practically at your doorstep, offering easy access to National Forest hiking and backpacking.
Want mountains, small-town vibes, and affordable mountain living? Buffalo does exactly that, making it one of Wyoming’s best small towns to live in.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
$55,613 median income · $372,386 median home · #8 best place in Wyoming
Located in
Albany County, WyomingLocated about 50 miles west of Cheyenne, Laramie comes in as the 8th best place to live in the Cowboy State. Laramie is the youngest city to make this list, with a median age of 27. That’s because Laramie is the home of the University of Wyoming, which also explains why around half the population have a college degree and over 20% have a master’s degree, PhD, or professional degree. Laramie’s downtown is delightful mix of of sophisticated shops and restaurants alongside down-home dives that provides opportunities for endless exploration. Those more comfortable out of the big city lights will find the cure at nearby Medicine Bow National Forest.
Laramie’s dedication to education isn’t just about the university; the high school dropout rate in Laramie is the 6th lowest in Wyoming. Laramie workers enjoy the perk of having the 12th shortest average commute time in the state at 14 minutes. And it’s unlikely you’ll get carjacked on your trip, because Laramie is one of Wyoming’s safest cities, with a crime rate 50% below the national average.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
$65,208 median income · $205,976 median home · #9 best place in Wyoming
The 9th best place to live in Wyoming is Thermopolis, a small town sitting right on the world’s largest mineral hot spring. The Wyoming Dinosaur Center draws history buffs. Hot Springs State Park, honestly, has free soaking pools that residents use all the time.
Work abounds here. With 1.1% unemployment (the 3rd lowest in Wyoming), most folks who want employment have it. Thermopolis keeps costs reasonable, too.
Median rent sits at $835/month and homes run around $205,976. A commute under 14 minutes makes Thermopolis a genuinely solid pick for Wyoming living.
$98,804 median income · $356,915 median home · #10 best place in Wyoming
A northern suburb of Casper, Bar Nunn is the 10th 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 36, so expect a lot of fresh ideas in this vibrant community. The poverty level in Bar Nunn is a measly 2.2%, the 2nd lowest in Wyoming. Bar Nunn’s median household income of $98,804/year ranks as the 2nd highest statewide. Which is good, when you’re paying the 12th highest price for a home anywhere in Wyoming.
The receipts
Compare the top ten
Pick a metric. The bars rescale. The red line is Wyoming’s statewide median.
Wyoming statewide median: $76,176
Wyoming statewide median: $363,227
Wyoming statewide median: 3.7%
On the map
Mapping The Best And Worst Places To Live in Wyoming
Saturday Night Science
Methodology: How We Calculated The Best Cities To Live In Wyoming
Before we even started to collect data on the best places to live in Wyoming, we had to answer a tough question: Is it fair to pit cities with populations over 100,000 against places with a population of 18?
We firmly decided no, that just isn’t fair.
So, to create our ranking, we broke the best 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
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 over 2,000 people to truly be ‘the best.’
Now that we had our set of the best possible cities, it was time to rank them using Saturday Night Science.
We ranked each place in Wyoming across a number of criteria from one to 31, with one being the best.
We then took the average rank across all criteria, crowning the city posting the lowest overall score, the “Best Place To Live In Wyoming.”
The criteria we looked to determine the best places were:
- Median Home Values
- Median Income
- Population Density (Higher is better)
- Unemployment Rate
- Commute Time
- Crime
- Education Levels
- Health Insurance Coverage
- Poverty rates
Sources of criteria include the New Census Data, FBI Crime Data, and Zillow. We updated this article for 2026. This report is our eleventh time ranking Wyoming’s best places to live.
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 Jackson at the end of the cul-de-sac.
The full plate
Best Places To Live In Wyoming Table
Click any column to sort. Search by city name.
| Rank | City | Best Score | Population | Unemployment Rate | Home Value | Median Income | Rent | Total Crime /100k |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jackson | 6.65 | 10,756 | 1.2% | $1,932,344 | $118,991 | 781 | |
| 2 | Star Valley Ranch | 9.20 | 2,007 | 1.3% | $658,782 | $96,071 | 150 | |
| 3 | Cody | 10.80 | 10,276 | 3.4% | $458,576 | $72,570 | 934 | |
| 4 | Sheridan | 11.65 | 19,285 | 2.9% | $432,885 | $62,867 | 1,156 | |
| 5 | Afton | 12.45 | 2,908 | 3.9% | $482,024 | $63,586 | 150 | |
| 6 | Cheyenne | 12.75 | 65,239 | 3.7% | $387,234 | $78,839 | 3,312 | |
| 7 | Buffalo | 12.95 | 4,572 | 5.3% | $409,842 | $62,629 | 875 | |
| 8 | Laramie | 14.05 | 32,234 | 4.0% | $372,386 | $55,613 | 1,300 | |
| 9 | Thermopolis | 14.35 | 2,709 | 1.1% | $205,976 | $65,208 | 738 | |
| 10 | Bar Nunn | 14.45 | 3,008 | 3.6% | $356,915 | $98,804 | 2,388 | |
| 11 | Kemmerer | 14.75 | 2,972 | 1.6% | $254,168 | $76,626 | 150 | |
| 12 | Douglas | 14.75 | 6,420 | 5.8% | $310,551 | $83,147 | 981 | |
| 13 | Glenrock | 15.00 | 2,941 | 4.2% | $261,447 | $64,806 | 306 | |
| 14 | Worland | 15.25 | 4,794 | 3.1% | $254,640 | $63,357 | 772 | |
| 15 | Green River | 15.40 | 11,581 | 5.6% | $291,843 | $84,747 | 838 | |
| 16 | Newcastle | 15.60 | 3,348 | 0.4% | $247,521 | $82,734 | 926 | |
| 17 | Powell | 16.45 | 6,503 | 3.7% | $406,431 | $63,523 | 1,461 | |
| 18 | Casper | 16.55 | 58,839 | 4.1% | $306,618 | $70,218 | 2,388 | |
| 19 | Lovell | 16.85 | 2,422 | 3.6% | $278,751 | $60,154 | 1,969 | |
| 20 | Gillette | 16.85 | 33,431 | 4.6% | $328,380 | $81,316 | 1,720 | |
| 21 | Evanston | 16.95 | 11,800 | 3.9% | $310,067 | $76,516 | 2,025 | |
| 22 | Lander | 17.00 | 7,432 | 7.4% | $369,881 | $74,813 | 4,753 | |
| 23 | Pinedale | 17.75 | 2,048 | 0.0% | $441,772 | $58,500 | 1,969 | |
| 24 | Greybull | 19.00 | 2,091 | 2.2% | $242,613 | $65,417 | 1,969 | |
| 25 | Rawlins | 20.20 | 8,129 | 7.0% | $190,808 | $64,773 | 1,322 | |
| 26 | Rock Springs | 20.20 | 23,127 | 5.2% | $287,179 | $69,168 | 1,384 | |
| 27 | Evansville | 20.50 | 2,779 | 6.4% | $321,961 | $76,893 | 2,388 | |
| 28 | Wheatland | 20.65 | 3,550 | 4.9% | $284,968 | $58,750 | 1,969 | |
| 29 | Mills | 21.60 | 4,390 | 8.1% | $204,543 | $50,656 | 729 | |
| 30 | Torrington | 21.95 | 6,182 | 7.2% | $230,286 | $47,902 | 1,569 | |
| 31 | Riverton | 23.45 | 10,856 | 5.7% | $259,336 | $55,208 | 4,753 |
Source: U.S. Census ACS 2020-2024, FBI UCR, Zillow research. 31 places with more than 2,000 residents.
Summary
Summary: The Best Places 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.
The best places to live in Wyoming are Jackson, Star Valley Ranch, Cody, Sheridan, Afton, Cheyenne, Buffalo, Laramie, Thermopolis, and Bar Nunn.
Jackson made a strong showing to take in the overall number one spot for the best place to live in Wyoming for 2026.
