The Advantages and Challenges to Living in Wyoming

The United States is one of the largest countries in the world, with more than 340 million people that reside in 50 states. Wyoming is the 10th largest state by area but has the smallest population. With less than 600,000 residents, Wyoming is the perfect place if you prefer wide open spaces and enjoy nature – after all, it’s home to some of the most famous National Parks and monuments in the world – but like all areas, there are advantages and challenges to living there.

Folks who live there tend to be nature lovers. Not only do they have Grand Teton National Park but they have Yellowstone National Park too.  Wyoming’s air quality is considerably superior to most other states in the union. This is likely because of the small population. The only true metropolitan areas of Wyoming are Cheyenne and Laramie.

One of the challenges of settling down in Wyoming is the ruthless weather. Most of the state is at an altitude that soars higher than the rest of the United States. This means that there’s plenty of snowfall during the year. Temperatures rarely hit the 90s in Wyoming. The highest all-time temperature in Cheyenne was 100 degrees.

To compile this list of advantages and challenges to living in Wyoming, 24/7 Tempo consulted Wyoming-related sources. These include Redfin, Apartment Guide, and The Honest Local. For more state content, click here to read about the 10 pros and 10 cons of living in Florida.

Advantage: Low cost of living

Compared to the rest of the United States, Wyoming has a reputation for being reasonably priced. The housing market is welcoming, especially for individuals coming from more expensive states. Going to the grocery store or getting gas won’t set you back the same way it will in places like California or New York.

Challenge: Weather

If you’re someone who doesn’t like cold weather, Wyoming certainly isn’t the place for you. The summers in Wyoming are quite comfortable, but that’s about it. For the rest of the year, be ready to have to grab your shovel at a moment’s notice. There’s typically always a chance for snow, even outside of the summer months.

Snow storms aren’t the only weather problem Wyoming faces. The temperatures can get brutally low during December and January. Your heating system will have to be cranked all the way up for a large percentage of the year. Decipher if you’re someone who can stomach frosty weather for long stretches.

Advantage: No state income tax

The last thing tons of people want to do is pay taxes and if you live in Wyoming, you won’t need to pay state income tax. This is one of the lures that attracts people to Wyoming in the first place. By axing a state income tax, folks automatically have more cash on hand.

With the excess money Wyoming residents have access to, it becomes easier to take family trips. Splurging on recreational vehicles to explore the vast and open land of Wyoming becomes achievable also. While there are plenty of states that don’t have a state income tax, few offer the same beauty and openness Wyoming does to the people who call it home.

Challenge: Incredibly windy

Wyoming has some of the strongest winds in the United States. You might think that wind isn’t a huge issue. But there are times when the winds reach 50 mph throughout the year. The average wind speed in Wyoming is 13 mph. Wind in Wyoming is problematic because it amplifies the frigid temperatures outside.

There are times when it feels so cold that it’s not worth it to venture outside. The wind makes grass fly everywhere in the summertime, which makes allergies worse for many individuals. If you’re going outside in Wyoming, be ready to experience a wind storm.

Advantage: Natural beauty

Wyoming offers a delightful glimpse of what life was like in the Wild West. There are numerous mountain ranges and lakes where people spend their free time in Wyoming. People from all around the United States visit the Equality State when they’re looking to unplug and escape the hustle of society.

Having constant access to unique beauty and landscape makes Wyoming feel special to those who live there. If you’re aiming to live somewhere with breathtakingly stunning scenic views, you’ll be in luck in Wyoming.

Challenge: Few entertainment options​

There are few places to watch live shows in Wyoming.

People typically enjoy going out to sporting events and shows. However, if you decide to make Wyoming your home, be ready to accept that there aren’t many year-round entertainment options nearby. Denver is the closest city to Cheyenne with professional sports teams. As a reminder, Cheyenne is the largest city in Wyoming.

Rooting for the Broncos is all the rage among Denver residents. Wyoming residents often feel inclined to support those same teams. The trip from Cheyenne to Denver is roughly 100 miles, which means you’ll spend around three hours in the car getting to a sporting event. There aren’t many theaters in Wyoming putting on productions of shows, either. Also, musicians rarely ever stop in the state during their tours.

Advantage: Plenty of outdoor areas

There are plenty of open spaces to roam and explore while living in Wyoming. It’s one of the reasons kids love growing up in the state. They have plenty of space to run around and play. Kids aren’t the only group of people who make use of the outdoor areas.

It’s become more common for millennials and Gen-Zers to spend their time outside in nature. It’s hard to get the full effect of what nature provides unless you’re in an empty area with nobody else around you. There are countless lakes and rivers to fish in as well.

Challenge: Lack of public transportation

Since there’s only one major city in Wyoming, there isn’t a lot of public transportation in the state. This means owning a car is necessary if you want to get around easily. Most other places in the United States have some sort of reliable, public transportation system that people can rely on. There has been no discussion of adding to the public transit system in Wyoming either. If they want to make themselves a more marketable state to live in, creating better transportation is vital.

Advantage: Low population density

Unlike so many places in the United States, Wyoming isn’t a state where neighbors have homes seemingly built on top of each other. There’s so much land that neighborhood developments can spread out and create beautiful homes for residents. A low population density also means the air quality in most of the state is better than in other parts of America.

Challenge: Many small cities

With a low population density comes a plethora of small cities. This isn’t a bad thing, but get ready to drive out of your way whenever you need something. Most towns in Wyoming, except Cheyenne and Laramie, don’t have everything available on their store shelves. On a night when you’re craving McDonald’s, you’ll have to drive to the next town over.

Small towns don’t have the same options that other larger cities in the United States have. For example, there are no Costco stores in the state of Wyoming. It’s good to support local businesses, but there are occasions when everyone wants to go to the trendy shopping area to feel like they’re part of society.

Advantage: Cultural heritage

It feels prideful to live somewhere that has a strong cultural heritage. Over the years, Wyoming has been home to numerous different groups that have inspired the art and lifestyle seen in 2024. One of the most influential groups was the Native American tribes. It’s easy to see the influence they have in different art galleries still to this day.

Another group of people who have made Wyoming their own are cowboys. It’s nearly impossible to go anywhere in Wyoming and not see a myriad of cowboy hats and boots strutting around. Countless people ride horses for fun and continue the old-school Western way of life in Wyoming.

Challenge: Altitude

If you’ve never experienced living at high altitudes, it’s vastly different than living closer to sea level. For starters, the weather is always worse the higher up in altitude you go. Several people have difficulty breathing because of asthma. Unless you were born at a high altitude, adjusting can be challenging.

When people visit from out of town, the altitude issue might pose a serious problem. For at least a day or two, their bodies need to adjust before doing true physical activity and living life. If they don’t, then the people visiting are subjecting themselves to altitude sickness. Even professional athletes struggle to play in places with a higher altitude.

Advantage: Cowboy lifestyle

The cowboy lifestyle has become more of a dream for millennials and Gen-Zers who are looking to live according to simpler terms. Young people want to work for themselves and enjoy their time off. Cowboys have notoriously been famous for making sure they’re taken care of. Cowboys have reputations for enjoying the simple things life has to offer.

Challenge: Lack of job opportunities

If you’re someone looking for a steady income, living in Wyoming probably isn’t a great idea for you. There aren’t many chain stores that have made their way to the Equality State. Few corporations are headquartered in Wyoming and unless you’re willing to make the 200-mile round-trip drive to Denver every day, it’ll be hard to find a Fortune 500 job.

It’s vital to take time and figure out a business to support yourself unless you want to work for the state or take a chance finding a job with a store.

Advantage: Hunting and fishing opportunities

A lot of people enjoy unwinding by going hunting with their friends and family on the weekends. In Wyoming, there are countless animals to hunt in the wild. There are different seasons to hunt animals there, so make sure you’re always up to date on what time of year it is.

Fishing is another outdoor activity that plenty of people take part in. Unlike hunting, some folks throw the fish they catch back into the water instead of keeping it for themselves. Wyoming is home to natural lakes and rivers that are a dream for anyone who fantasizes about spending time outdoors.

Challenge: Water scarcity

In Wyoming, it might seem like snowfall is as common as seeing a McDonald’s joint within every five miles. Regardless, there’s still a monstrous water issue plaguing the state. Wyoming is incredibly dry compared to other places in the United States. There’s a colossal chance your water bill is going to be higher than most other places. The state is forced to ship water in from places like Oregon and Washington.

There’s no telling if Mother Nature will be kind and give Wyoming more natural water in the future. This also means you’re likely going to need a sprinkler system to water your lawn, instead of letting it naturally grow. Water scarcity is becoming a bigger issue around the United States everywhere, but people in Wyoming already know the struggle.

Advantage: People are friendly

Wyoming is the perfect place for you if you want to be surrounded by welcoming and friendly faces. Since the state population is so small, seemingly everybody knows everybody. While it might feel a bit overwhelming to know everyone in your community, it means people are more likely to be kind to you.

Smaller communities are known for looking out for one another. It’s also part of the cowboy culture that’s spread throughout the Equality State. This mindset doesn’t appear to be going anywhere in the future.

Challenge: Landlocked

People will always be enamored with beach trips. There’s something so relaxing about laying in the sand and splashing around in the water, especially when the temperature gets incredibly hot. If you live in Wyoming, you won’t find any beaches near you. Instead, you’re going to be forced to make a beach trip a family vacation.

Tons of people live in landlocked places, which means it’s doable. However, if you’re someone who’s used to always having the ocean near you at the drop of a hat, living somewhere landlocked is a huge lifestyle adjustment. Even folks living in Nevada and Arizona can go to the beach on random days by taking trips to California. Wyoming is too landlocked for that.

Advantage: Safe

Living somewhere safe brings a sense of peace that few other things can provide. In Wyoming, not much crime takes place. These positive statistics go along with the fact that everyone knows each other. People in Wyoming want to help each other and continue to thrive, not take away from each other.

It’s normal for people in Wyoming to not lock their doors at night. There’s no need to fear someone entering your home when you’re close and friendly with them. The people of Wyoming pride themselves on being safe. The people want this trend to continue long into the future, even when they’re gone.

Challenge: Little diversity

If you’re a minority, odds are you’re going to feel quite out of place in Wyoming. Roughly 75% of the state’s population is white. If you’re a minority who doesn’t mind this, then you’re going to do just fine in Wyoming. With little diversity comes a few different perspectives in life, though.

Sometimes, it’s great to listen to someone who doesn’t have the same life story as you. There’s nothing Wyoming can do to change the diversity in the state. It’s up to more minorities to move there to create a change in the diversity level. For more United States content, click here to read about 10 things most Americans don’t know about America.

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