Known as ‘the land of vast plains’, Wyoming is surrounded by the Rocky Mountain Range extending from Colorado and further into the Laramie Range near the city of Caper. The Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks hold a tremendous treasure house of breathtaking peaks and natural wonder. The state’s recreational activities, farming lands and mining settlements with a relatively smaller population than the rest of the states in the U.S makes it the perfect place for you!
Well, there’s much more to Wyoming than just the national parks and museums! The state offers much more than the wonders of nature’s beauty, such as an altogether different culture of food, lifestyle, settlements and people. So if you’re thinking about moving to Wyoming and having a home here, there’s so much for you to explore and know about the state.
What Should I Know Before Moving To Wyoming?
Wyoming is considered as the 10th largest state in the U.S in terms of area, having a total estimated area of around 97,914 sq mi with Cheyenne as its capital and most populated city. The state has an estimated population of around 578,759 according to the 2019 census.
Another nickname for Wyoming is the ‘Equality state’, as it was the first state that allowed women to vote and elect a female governor in the year 1869.
The ranges of the Rocky Mountains coat around two thirds of the state with their magnificence, and the states of Montana, South Dakota, Nebraska, Utah and Idaho surround it. The Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks will take your breath away with their historical monuments, forests with enthralling wildlife and national and historical sites to explore. The pleasures of Wyoming are not just limited to its historical significance, you also get to experience the country’s largest hot springs Old Faithful and Grand Prismatic which is the destination of all tourists who visit the state.
Also Read: Largest States By Population in the U.S.
Crime Rate In Wyoming
Although the scenic beauty of the state may seem quite captivating, you should also be aware of other important factors with the crime rate being one of the most important one. The crime rate for Wyoming per thousand residents in terms of violent crimes (murder, rape, robbery, assault) is 2.17, and the property crime is around 15.71 per thousand residents according to Neighborhood Scout. So, your chances of being a victim for violent crimes is 1 in 460 whereas your chances for being a victim of a property crime is 1 in 64.
Wyoming Weather
Due to the topography of the state, Wyoming has a semi-arid continental climate where you’ll get to experience warm summers that range approximately 29 degree Celsius to 39 degree Celsius in almost many places of the state. It varies to around 21 degree Celsius where there is an increase in the elevation. As the Rocky Mountains cover two third of the state and the remaining one third is covered by the High Plains, they have a huge impact on the climate of Wyoming.
If you want to experience warm summers in the state, July is the perfect time to visit as the average temperature is around 75.02 degree F to 90.14 degree F. However, if you want to enjoy the cool winters in Wyoming, January is considered as the coldest month in the state with an average temperature of around -0.4 degree F to 17.96 degree F. This varies depending on the elevations and different parts of the state.
If you want to explore the state in its best time, you should consider the time between June to October as you can witness the warm summers and beautiful autumn weathers. Winter would be the worst time for you to explore Wyoming as there is an intense snowfall of around 5080 mm.
How Expensive Is It To Live In Wyoming?
Just knowing about the weather and crime rate is not enough for you to be able to decide and plan your move to Wyoming. You still need to know whether living in the state would be affordable for you in terms of your budget for your living and other essentials. So, grab your calculator and let’s analyze all the different factors associated with living and expenses in Wyoming.
See Also: States With Lowest Taxes
Cost Of Living In Wyoming
According to payscale, the cost of living in Wyoming is 5% less than the national average. The best thing about living in Wyoming is that it has no state tax, whereas the average estimated tax burden according to smartasset would be around $14,103. This includes the approximate average income tax of $11,208, sales tax of $1,050, fuel tax of $285 and property tax of $1,561 as stated in the analysis by smartasset.
Cheyenne is the capital of Wyoming and is known to have the grocery costs around 3% higher than the national average. Your average cost for a typical breakfast or brunch according to payscale would be around $2.00 for a gallon of milk, $1.87 for a carton of eggs, $3.43 for a loaf of bread, $3.46 for a bunch of bananas and $4.37 for a hamburger.
Buying A House
The housing expenses in Cheyenne which is the capital of Wyoming has around 10% lower prices than the national average. Which is why it’ll be relatively cheaper for you to buy a house in the city of Cheyenne rather than other places. But if we talk about the average cost of buying a home in Wyoming, the approximate price would be $263,166, as shared by Zillow. Do note that this data is considered for the month of March, and it is more or less an estimate. The size of apartment, city you choose and time of the year you buy it in can increase or decrease the final cost.
Renting A House
If you consider 1,135 square feet as the average size of an apartment in Wyoming, the average cost of rent in the state comes up to approximately $1,150, as shared by homesnacks. Do keep in mind that this data was calculated for December 2020. Just so you know, this is merely an average. Interestingly, the month over month cost of rent has seen a dip in Wyoming recently.
If you have to consider the rent of a 3-bedroom apartment in particular, then the median rent would be $1,000 in Wyoming, according to homesnacks. What’s great is that renting in the state is considerably cheaper than the national average, which stands at $1,650 on a monthly basis.
Utility Bills
Your gas price would cost you around $2.43 per gallon. You needn’t worry about your transportation and gas bills as the transportation costs including your bus fares and gas prices are around 7% lower than the average national price.
If you’re planning to live in Wyoming, your energy bill would cost you around $172.02 per month and your phone bill would be around $183.37 per month. Your internet bill for a speed of 60mbps or more would be around $64.33 on a monthly basis.
Wyoming Economy And Employment Opportunities
In order to pay all of your bills like housing prices, essential utilities, travel and transport, you need to have a good job to be able to meet all the essential costs. Wyoming has an unemployment rate of around 3.8% which is a little higher than the average national rate of 3.7%. An average resident of Wyoming earns around $29,381 on a yearly basis which is slightly higher than the national average of around $28,555 per year. The average median household income of a person living in Wyoming is around $58,252 on a yearly basis which is relatively higher than the average national household income of around $53,482 per year.
A lot of people visit Wyoming because of its vast historical significance as the Yellowstone Park, Grand Teton, Fossil Butte and Devil’s Tower are the state’s most important historical heritages. A major part of the state’s revenue comes from tourism as tourists from all around the world seek to explore the state’s historical and scenic wonders. That is why the tourism industry employs around 12% of the labor force. The prominent industries in Wyoming are the oil extraction, gas production and mining industries. These industries involve production of coal, trona, uranium, diamonds and coal bed methane.
The Architecture and Engineering industry has been determined as the most flourishing industry in terms of employment whereas farming and fishing industries have been rated very low by zippia. The average salary of a person engaged in the Architecture or Engineering industry is around $78,020. The people engaged in Healthcare and Technical industries earn an average of $77,590.
Education
You will find school districts in all the 23 counties of Wyoming. All the educational facilities across Wyoming are carried out by the School Facilities Division (SFD) which serves 48 school districts. According to ballotpedia, Wyoming has been ranked the 7th highest for per pupil spending at around $15,700 in the year 2013.
The Casper College in the city of Casper has had the highest ranking with an estimated retention rate of around 59.9%. If you are looking for distance learning, the college has provisions for that as well. The Central Wyoming College is another popular college in Riverton with an average retention rate of 47.23%. There are plenty of other schools and colleges for you to begin your educational venture.
Getting Around Wyoming
You have a variety of options to explore the state of Wyoming. If at all you are thinking of renting a car for your trip or visit to Wyoming, make sure you book it in advance as the rental cars usually run out, especially in summers, because of the massive tourists that visit the state to experience the recreational and sports activities.
Buses
The average cost of bus tickets to travel in the 17 cities in Wyoming is approximately $145.00 for the top routes while the cheapest ticket costs around $16.00. If you plan to travel by a luxury bus, your ticket would cost around $249.00. There are 4 major bus companies that help you reach your destination in Wyoming, the most popular being the Jefferson Lines which has buses to Wyoming from 148 cities in other states. Apart from that, there are the Greyhound, Express Arrow and Amtrak Thruway which will help you in your travel within the state.
Taxi
There are numerous taxi companies in Wyoming that will help you travel from one city to your desired location. The Cowboy Shuttle in Cheyenne, All Season Transportation LLC and Old Faithful Taxi in Jackson Hole, Yellow Checked Taxi in Laramie are some of the companies that will provide you transportation facilities. The state also has Uber facilities with $8.00 being the minimum fare and around $1.75 per km.
Best Cities To Live In Wyoming
Wyoming’s scenic wonders like the Rocky Mountains, national parks and historic sites have captivated tourists across the globe. The state offers you many recreational activities especially at the Yellowstone Park and the Grand Teton where you get to explore the state’s most breathtakingly amazing views.
1. Cody
Known as the ‘Wild West Way Into Yellowstone’, Cody is popular for Shoshone National Forest and Buffalo Bill State Park where you can explore the state’s vast nature. The population of the city is around 9,764 according to homesnacks. Apart from that, you get to see the Old Trail Town which will give you an insight of the authentic style and structure of towns and buildings of the 1890’s. If you want to explore the state’s history, then Cody is the perfect place where you get to experience the rustic feels of old historic buildings.
- Median Home value: $236,900
- Median Home rent: $845
- Unemployment rate: 1.3%
2. Sheridan
Located at the north of Wyoming, Sheridan is known for its cowboy and rodeo culture. If you have a keen interest in cowboy culture, you are sure to be astounded by the collection of Old West artifacts in the King’s Saddlery Museum and Buffalo Bill’s inn in Sheridan which is popular till date. At the west of Sheridan is the Bighorn National Park which will give you the most magnificent view of the mountains and peaks that surround the city.
- Median Home value: $228,200
- Median Home rent: $824
- Unemployment rate: 3.4%
3. Jackson
Jackson is one of the most richest and expensive cities in Wyoming with a very dense population of around 2,782 people and is located at the south of the Grand Teton. If you want to explore a wide species of wildlife, the National Elk Refuge in Jackson is home to several regional animals and wildlife art. The city is not just limited to wildlife, if you are keen on taking up sports like skiing, then you can have the time of your life at the Rendezvous Mountain or just go sightseeing around Jackson’s Town Square. It is relatively expensive to live in Jackson because of the city being the most visited by tourists making it one of the most important cities in Wyoming.
- Median Home value: $652,100
- Median Home rent: $1,350
- Unemployment rate: 1.4%
4. Laramie
Laramie has an average population of around 32,381 and is located at the west of Cheyenne. If you want to escape from the city life, the Medicine Bow National Forest will make you feel at peace with its wonders and wildlife. Laramie is relatively more populated than other cities in Wyoming because of its emphasis on education and therefore there are several universities and colleges for you to explore here as it has the lowest college dropout rate in Wyoming.
- Median Home value: $216,300
- Median Home rent: $640
- Unemployment rate: 4.8%
Is Wyoming A Good Place To Live?
If you are planning to move to a place with fairly less population, then Wyoming is the best place for you! In addition, the state also has 0% income tax, which definitely adds to the affordability of Wyoming. Along with the rich mountain views and wildlife species, the state has relatively cheap housing costs in areas like Cody, Sheridan, etc. You also get to experience warm summers in the month of July and there are a wide range of recreational activities like skiing lined up for you. Wyoming is a perfect blend of culture with the pleasures of city life. So if you want to enjoy nature’s beauty in a less populated place, Wyoming is the state for you.
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Frequently Asked Questions about Moving to Wyoming
Where is better to live, Montana or Wyoming?
Wyoming is a better place to live. It has much more resources, good infrastructure, and the state government keeps its funds safe with high-quality assets for generations ahead of time!
Is Wyoming Retirement friendly?
Retirees in Wyoming can enjoy a tax-friendly environment perfect for saving and spending time with family. Social Security income isn’t taxed; withdrawals from retirement accounts aren’t taxed either! Plus, wages are subject only to normal taxation rates, so you won’t have trouble making ends meet even after living on one paycheck per month during your golden years!
Is Wyoming always windy?
Wyoming is always windy. The Cowboy State produces annual average winds speeds ranging from around 13 MPH in some areas every year.
Are there tornadoes in Wyoming?
Yes, Wyoming is prone to seasonal tornadoes that sweep through states during summers.
Why is Wyoming so sparsely populated?
It’s easy to see why the people of Wyoming are so sparsely populated. The state has an unusual landscape with high, rugged terrain and essentially flat, treeless basins-not exactly inviting places for human habitation!
Where is the warmest place to live in Wyoming?
Thermopolis, Wyoming, is a town known for its hot mineral springs and the largest on earth. The average temperature ranges between 66 degrees Fahrenheit and 70 degrees Fahrenheit throughout the year, giving residents an extra warm feeling!
Does Wyoming tax your Social Security?
Wyoming is a great state for retired people. It doesn’t tax Social Security or your retirement pay, and they don’t take any money from 401(k) plans or IRAs either! That’s right – no taxes on income!
What are the benefits of living in Wyoming?
Living in Wyoming is a great way to enjoy the many benefits of owning real estate without paying any taxes. There’s no inheritance or estate tax, low property values, and mineral ownership doesn’t come with its own set of complications!
What is the best small town in Wyoming?
The best small town in Wyoming is Laramie, Wyoming. Laramie is the seat of Albany County, which is, in turn, a part of the larger Park County. It has a population that is just under 32,000 people. It’s home to one public high school, one private college-level university.
What town in Wyoming has the best weather?
Thermopolis, Wyoming, is home to some of America’s most spectacular scenery, and it has the best weather too!
Does Wyoming have good healthcare?
Wyoming does have good healthcare. According to the US Department of Health and Human Services in Wyoming, there is access to primary and specialty care in all county seats. Furthermore, in 2017, Wyoming ranked #5 when it came to the best health care systems in the United States.
Is it cheaper to live in Wyoming or California?
According to a recent survey, Wyoming is about 27% less expensive than California.
What is the highest-paying job in Wyoming?
With an earning of about $200k, Anesthesiologist, Pain Management Specialist is the highest paying job in Wyoming.
Does Wyoming have harsh winters?
Well, the snow-capped state is known for its monstrous storms. The most notable example of this was 2013, when 85 inches fell on average, and Cody received their one-day record 21″ April 17th, 1941!
