Wyoming is also known as “The Equality State” because it was the first American state to permit women the right to vote and the right to assume elected office. The official motto of this state is “Equal Rights”. Wyoming is also known as “The CowBoy State”.
In this article I am going to explain some best places to live in Wyoming State upon considering five factors – cost of living, schools, job opportunities, crime rates and local amenities that make up core principles of a good place to live that will certainly help if someone chooses to live in Wyoming.
1. Sheridan
- Safety index rank/Crime rate – 1st
- Population – 18,261
- Climate – Semi-arid climate with cold, dry winters and hot, wet summers.
- Cost of living index score out of 100 – 97.4
- Employment Sector – Accommodation and food services, Health care and social assistance.
2. Green River
- Safety index rank/Crime rate – 2nd
- Population – 11,279
- Climate – Semi-arid climate with long, cold, dry winters and hot, slightly wetter winters.
- Cost of living index score out of 100 – 97
- Employment sector –Soda ash mining from trona ore, well drilling and oil exploration.,
3. Jackson
- Safety index rank/Crime rate -3rd
- Population – 10,709
- Climate – Humid continental climate.
- Cost of living index score out of 100 – 146
- Employment sectors – Accommodation and food services, Health care and social assistance, Tourism
4. Laramie
- Safety index rank/Crime rate – 4th
- Population – 33,008
- Climate – Semi-arid climate with long, cold, dry winters and short, warm and wetter summers.
- Cost of living index score out of 100 – 98
- Employment sectors – Educational services, Health care and social assistance and Retail trading.
5. Gillette
- Safety index rank/Crime rate – 5th
- Population – 31,952
- Climate – Semi-arid.
- Cost of living index score out of 100 – 102
- Employment sectors – Mining, Quarrying, oil and gas extraction, Health care and social assistance and Educational services
6. Evanston
- Safety index rank/Crime rate – 6th
- Population – 11,431
- Climate – Continental climate with long, cold, dry winters and short, warm, slightly more humid winters.
- Cost of living index score out of 100 – 93
- Employment sectors – Educational services, Professional, Scientific and Technical Services and Health Care and Social assistance.
7. Casper
- Safety index rank/Crime rate – 7th
- Population – 59,179
- Climate – Semi-arid climate with long, cold but dry winters, hot but generally dry summers, mild springs and short and crisp autumns.
- Cost of living index score out of 100 – 95.5
- Employment sectors – Health care and social assistance, Retail trading, Accommodation and food services.
8. Riverton
- Safety index rank/Crime rate – 8th
- Population – 10,532
- Climate – Semi-arid climate with cold, dry winters and warm, slightly wetter summers.
- Cost of living index score out of 100 – 93
- Employment sectors – Health care and social assistance, Educational Services and Retail Trading.
9. Rock springs
- Safety index rank/Crime rate – 9th
- Population – 21,831
- Climate – Semi-arid climate with cold, snowy winters and warm summers.
- Cost of living index score out of 100 – 99
- Employment sectors – Mining, Quarrying, oil and gas extraction, Health care and social assistance and Educational services.
10. Cheyenne
- safety index rank/Crime rate – 10th
- Population – 65,435
- Climate – Cold semi-arid climate with cold, moderately long winters and summers are warm with high diurnal temperature range.
- Cost of living index score out of 100 – 96
- Employment sectors – Government, trade, transportation and utilities, leisure and hospitality, professional and business services, educational services and healthcare.
Note: Cost of living indices are based on an American average score out of 100. A score below 100 indicates Wyoming is cheaper than the USA average and vice-versa.
Note: There are 91,533 students, 7,350 teachers, 364 schools in Wyoming with teacher pupil ratio 1:13 and per pupil spending $15,700 per year.
Conclusion: – There are certain advantages and disadvantages of living in Wyoming. It depends upon the person to person point of view how she/he reacts to these factors.
ADVANTAGES
- An abundance of natural beauty as western half of Wyoming is covered by the Rocky Mountains and the eastern half is a highly elevated prairie called the High Plains. It is a very good tourist destination with some tourist spots like Yellowstone National Park, Grand Teton National Park, Jackson, Hot Spring State Park, Bridger – Teton National Park.
- A low state tax burden as the Wyoming economy depends on the extraction of minerals like oil, natural gas and coal and on agricultural commodities like barley, hay, livestock, sugar beets, wheat and wool. Property tax is just 0.62% which is the 9th lowest in the nation. No income tax rate and sales tax rate is only 4%.
- Low crime rate. Wyoming is among the top ten safest states in the country.
- Low cost of living. Wyoming cost of living score is 98.1 out of 100 which means Wyoming is cheaper than the US average.
DISADVANTAGES
- Four distinct seasons and lots of sunshine as the Wyoming climate is much drier and much windier than the rest of the country. Summers are warm during day time with average temperature between 27degree Celsius to 32 degree Celsius and summer nights are cool with average temperature 10 degree Celsius to 16 degree Celsius. Winters are very cold especially during Chinook winds.
- Severe weather conditions as Wyoming is a dry state because its land receives less than 250 mm of rainfall per year. Lower areas in the BigHorn Basin is a true desert due to 130mm to 200mm average rainfall per year while lower areas of North and east side plains are semi-arid due to 250mm to 300mm precipitation per year.
- The southeastern part of the Wyoming is the most affected part to thunderstorms called “Tornado”. West part of Wyoming is little vulnerable to tornadoes.
- Limited effects of urbanization and no major metropolitan as Wyoming is not only the 10th largest state of the USA by area but also the least populous (5, 76,850) and least dense (2.31 per km square) populated state of the USA.
- Very remote and no professional sports teams.
- Lack of diversity as 93.39% of the population in Wyoming speaks English as their primary language. 96% of the population in Wyoming State follows Christianity as a religion. 9 3.35% of the population is white and only 3.87% of the population is of black race.
- Limited In state schooling and minimal higher education options.
- No mega size events and limited shopping areas. Employment prospects are very limited.
- High chances of encountering wild animals like black bears, grizzly bears, venomous snakes, massive bison, moose and gray wolves.
