Be sure to check this list of 10 best places to retire in Wyoming if Cowboy State (or Equality State if you will) is among your top choices. Why would anyone want to retire in Wyoming you ask? This western state is country’s second least densely populated state after Alaska, anyway. The entire region follows a similar pattern actually, which clearly speaks about this part of the country’s appeal. Well, things aren’t that simple. Although lack of large metro areas might be discouraging for young people and families, retirees usually thrive here. Wyoming has pristine nature which very few states have. Grand Teton and part of the Yellowstone National Parks should be sufficient proof, but they’re far from everything Equality State has to offer in terms of natural wonders. Then there’s weather which is much better than that in the eastern states that happen to be on the same latitude. Finally, Wyoming usually offers much more benefits for prospective retirees than other states in the country. Furthermore, according to Bankrate, Wyoming is the best state to retire in all of US. Bankrate takes into account actors like cost of living, healthcare, tax, weather, personal well-being for senior citizens, and crime rate. You can also take a look at this list of 11 best places to retire in Wisconsin and see how one of those mentioned eastern states compares.
There aren’t that many communities in the Cowboy State – at least not compared to eastern states. Still, there are plenty of towns for prospective retirees to choose from. We have consulted SmartAsset, Best Place to Retire, Newsmax, and Niche in order to single out the best of them. Since these sources all field different methodology, we had to make one of our own as well. We have decided to consult Sperling’s Best Places and AreaVibes in order to find out the cost of living in these communities. We have actually taken three categories into account: housing, healthcare and groceries which are the most important categories for retirees. Then we found the number of doctors per 1,000 inhabitants thanks to Find The Company’s database. Finally, we resorted to Sperling’s and AreaVibes’ databases again in order to find the reported crime rates in selected Wyoming communities. We have dug up violent and property crimes from Sperling’s Best Places and AreaVibes alike, but couldn’t compare them since their methodology was miles apart. That’s why we have added another four categories – one for each of the mentioned crime ratings. In the end, we have a total of eight criteria. Numbers in every single one of them have been compared, and points from 1 to 10 have been assigned. Respective city can, thus gain maximum of 80 points. Needless to say, 10 locations with most points have qualified for our list of 10 best places to retire in Wyoming.
10. Rock Springs
Total points: 42
Rock Springs in Sweetwater County is a town with diverse multi-cultural background, and thus one of the most interesting options to settle down in Wyoming. The fact that Grand Teton National Park is close by also goes in its favor. There are many nationalities among Rock Springs’ 24,000 inhabitants, and 8% of people are seniors of the age 65 or older. With healthcare and grocery averages of 95 and 99.5 respectively, Rock Springs competes with the best of them. Housing average of 113.5, however, hinders the city into taking better position. 2 doctors per 1,000 inhabitants also helps Rock Springs place better on this list. According to Sperling’s, violent crime in Rock Springs is by 17% higher than that of the US average, while property crime is less than 2% higher. AreaVibes, on the other hand, state that overall crime in Rock Springs is 16% lower than the national average.
9. Cheyenne
Total points: 45
The capital and most populous city of the Equality State, and county seat of the Laramie County at the same time – Cheyenne got its name by one of the groups of indigenous people of the Great Plains. The city currently has more than 63,000 people, but its metro area has around 100,000 and is steadily growing. Housing and healthcare averages of 102 and 98.5 respectively, are around median values for Wyoming, but the groceries index of 105.25 is the highest on the list. Cheyenne also has biggest on the list number of physicians per 1,000 citizens of 4.79. Violent crime is some 4% higher than the national average, while property crime is higher by 11% according to Sperling’s. According to AreaVibes, though, the Cheyenne’s overall crime rate is higher than the national average by 1%.
8. Torrington
Total points: 45
County seat of Goshen County has around 7,000 inhabitants. The small town has the lowest grocery index average on the list of 99.45, and housing index among the lowest as well at 72. Healthcare average of 101.5 and 0.92 doctors per 1,000 inhabitants are not going in Torrington’s favor, though. Sperling’s Best Places state that Torrington’s violent crime rate is almost 10% higher than the national average, while property crime is only 2% higher. AreaVibes tell us a different story by which Torrington has an overall crime rate lower than the national average crime rate by 37%.
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7. Green River
Total points: 47
Green River is the county seat of Sweetwater County in Cowboy State’s southwestern region. The town has around 13,000 inhabitants, 8.6% of which are older than 65.The m housing index is highest on the list, coming to 125. Healthcare and grocery indexes of 95 and 99.5, on the other hand, are among the lowest. Green River also features the lowest number of physicians per 1,000 citizens; 0.48. While violent crime in Green River is more than 25% higher than the national average, property crime is almost 8% lower. At least that’s what Sperling’s Best Places says. AreaVibes tells us that Green River has an overall crime rate 49% lower than the national average.
6. Sheridan
Total points: 47
Sheridan is the county seat of the eponymous county with some 18,000 inhabitants. This northern Wyoming city had almost 16% seniors of ages 65 and older according to 2010 census. Housing, healthcare and grocery index averages amount to 105.5, 102 and 102.85 respectively – neither of which is a strong figure. Sheridan does have 3.04 doctors per 1,000 inhabitants and some fine crime rates. Sperling’s Best Places tell us of 5.5% lower violent crime rate and property crime rate equal to that of the national average. AreaVibes tell us that Sheridan has crime rate 17% lower than the national average which helps it propel to the sixth spot on our list of 10 best places to retire in Wyoming.
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5. Casper
Total points: 48
County seat of Natrona County, Casper has a population of around 60,000 people and metro area of some 82,000 inhabitants. Grocery shopping in Casper is rather pleasant with average grocery index of 99.65. Housing and healthcare median indexes of 102 and 100 respectively, are exactly on par with the Cowboy State’s average. Casper has 2.22 physicians per 1,000 inhabitants, which is above average for Wyoming. According to Sperling’s, violent crime rates in Casper are 1% higher than the national average, while property crime rates are higher by 14%. AreaVibes state that Casper has an overall crime rate 5% lower than the national average.
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4. Laramie
Total points: 51
County seat of Albany County, Laramie is a city of some 32,000 inhabitants – 7.5% of which are of age 65 or older. Housing index of 110 and healthcare index of 102 aren’t among Laramie’s strong points, at least when prospective retirees are concerned. Grocery index of 100.25, on the other hand, is more pleasant. Laramie has only 1.18 physicians per 1,000 citizens which is lower than both national and Wyoming’s average. Sperling’s state that Laramie has a violent crime rate 4% lower than the national average and property crime that’s 3% lower. According to AreaVibes, Laramie’s overall crime rate is 21% lower than the national average crime rate.
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3. Thermopolis
Total points: 52
Although it’s the largest town and county seat of Hot Springs County, Thermopolis still has only 3,000 inhabitants. Thermopolis is one of Wyoming’s premiere tourist destination thanks to Hot Springs State Park and its hot springs, naturally. Furthermore, Thermopolis features the lowest housing index on the list, making it even better location for prospective retirees. However,a healthcare index of 104 is highest on the list, and grocery average of 104.15 isn’t that far from being the highest as well. At least Thermopolis has 1.67 doctors per 1,000 citizens which is around average for the Cowboy State. According to Sperling’s Best Places, Thermopolis has a violent crime rate which is 2% lower than the national average and the property crime rate which is lower by 1%. According to AreaVibes, on the other hand, the overall crime rate in Thermopolis is 75% lower than the national average.
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2. Cody
Total points: 54
Cody is the county seat of Park County and has close to 10,000 inhabitants. According to the 2010 census, more than 18% of them are older than 65. Housing, healthcare and grocery index averages of 111.5, 102 and 102.3 respectively, are all below par in terms of competitiveness. Cody, however, has 4.51 physicians per 1,000 citizens which is the second largest such figure on the list. The violent crime rate is 4% lower than the national average, according to Sperling’s, while property crime rate is 2.5% higher. AreaVibes state that the overall crime rate in Cody is 31% lower than the national average.
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1. Worland
Total points: 56
Worland is the county seat of Washakie County. It has around 5,500 inhabitants, 18% of which are of age 65 and older. The town has the second lowest housing index on the list of 69, and the second highest healthcare index average of 103.5. Its grocery index of 102.3 is around average for Wyoming. 1.11 doctors per 1,000 people also don’t go in Worland’s favor, so one might ask oneself how come it takes the first spot on our list of 10 best places to retire in Wyoming? Worland has its low crime rate to thank for that. According to Sperling’s Best Places, Worland’s violent crime rate is on par with the national average, but the property crime rate is 29% lower. AreaVibes also confirm this assessment since Worland has an overall crime rate 65% lower than the national average according to them.
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