7 Best Small Towns to Retire in Wyoming in 2024

A retiree's search for a place to settle down and live the rest of their life in quietude may conjure images of white sands and margaritas, but the truth is that there is far too much to narrow down and ignore for just the tropical dream. For example, the "Cowboy State," otherwise known as Wyoming, may not be a beachside paradise but instead offers itself as a state of parks, wilderness, mountains, and beauty so stunning that many make it their permanent home. In that spirit, discover Wyoming's answers to the seven best towns to retire.

Jackson

A snowy wonderland near white slopes and scenic heights, Jackson cruises by with a population of 10,000 and a relatively modern crime rate ( for a total of 8.60 per 1000 people). However, its true appeal to many, and especially retirees, is its proximity to parks and other forms of recreation.

For a more fast-paced day, famous ski resorts like Snow King Mountain and the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort (which has accommodations) occupy the minds and time of the youth, but for a slower and richer experience, Grand Teton National Park is just up the road and always promises a tranquil experience of snow-covered tall trees and a break from the noise of civilization.

With a low rate of poverty (5.92%) compared to the national average of (12.6%), Jackson excels on multiple fronts, as it also has access to urgent care centers and a hospital in town by the name of St. John's Health. Despite all that, the town's allure belongs to its natural surroundings.

Buffalo

With a population of just under 5000, Buffalo is not shattering any population records, but it upholds a quaint kind of reputation with a small-town charm. Doing so with a low rate of violent crime (13.2% compared to the average of 22.7%), the town keeps its residents busy with many small but valuable attractions.

Numbering among them, Dry Creek Petrified Forest is a barren but beautiful park that showcases what once was an ancient, small forest that has now become petrified, ensuring that thousands of years in the future, they could be appreciated for what they were and are now. If that is not enough, Buffalo is also home to the Historic Occidental Hotel and Museum. It is a reminder of the once wild past, which too seeks to preserve the ambiance of an albeit different historical time. The hotel itself is still in use and even has a saloon that saw the days of the Old West.

As an added bonus, Buffalo manages to get a near-perfect score of 93 out of 100 for air quality (the national average is 58). Committed to exceptional living, the town has a total number of 7 clinics, hospitals, and assisted living facilities. The main one is Johnson County Healthcare Center, which is noted for its cleanliness and helpful workers.

Rock Springs

Boasting a median house price 34.2% lower than the national average ($252,000 compared to $338,184) and a relatively hefty population of 20,000, Rock Springs ensures that there is much to do, experience, and see.

Starting, the town has its fair share of specialty museums and scenic parks. The most well-known is that of the Rock Springs Historical Museum, which dives into Rock Springs' mining past, including the history of the Oregon and Mormon trails. Supposedly, the museum is also willing to share details about other points of interest nearby, such as the Killpecker Sand Dunes and the ancient Lake Gosiut. Both of which predate the history of Man, and have stuck around to leave incredible structures, fossils, and finds.

Rock Springs also offers plenty of accommodations, such as the Clarion Hotel, which has been noted for its distinct style and cleanliness. On the health side, Rock Springs has three main medical centers, but the most significant and most suited for emergencies is the Memorial Hospital of Sweetwater County. In essence, what makes this town appealing is not only the locations it provides but also the atmosphere that lacks any chaos and instead becomes tame yet fulfilling.

Green River

At the foot of the Wind River Mountains, Green River sits in a comfortable space between snow-capped peaks and verdant plains. It celebrates a low property crime rate of 21.2 while the national average hovers around 35.4. The town, too, makes use of its tamed urban sprawl, as it scores 88 out of 100 on the air quality index (55 is the average).

As for its recreation, Green River offers nearly all things for the outdoorsman. The most important is likely the stunning Seedskadee National Wildlife Refuge, a refuge that serves to protect and inform about the native wildlife in the region, such as the Greater Sage-Grouse, trumpeter swans, bald eagles, and much more. For the studious and eager-to-learn, Green River is the holder of the Sweetwater County Museum. With free admission, the museum provides guided tours that detail the upbringing of the county, the Wild West, and up until the modern age.

Although being a small town, Green River still manages to hold a handful of medical facilities and proper lodging, including a veterinary clinic, a center for physical therapy, and the main facility, Castle Rock Medical Center. The accommodations include a somewhat known place called the Little Bear Motel, a classic motel with American architecture and quaint rooms that is locally owned.

Pinedale

Also resting near the Wind River Mountains lies a small town with a population of just 2000. A place of majestic views and a cool climate, Pinedale's selling points reside in both its low rate of property crime (20.8) and violent crime (16.5), yet again compared to the somewhat high national average of 22.7 and 35.4, respectively.

But Pinedale is more than just statistics and graphs; what makes the town rich is pride in both its past and accompanying culture. An authentic town of Western heritage, its roots reside in trading, fur trapping, and exploration of the hidden mountains and valleys around it. To learn about its origins, the Museum of the Mountain Man recounts the tales of determination, grit, and how harsh life could be without the amenities of the modern day. Another must-see location besides the many parks, rivers, and trails of Pinesdale, belongs to the nearby White Pines Ski Resort, which many also travel to as well as explore the Pinesdale area.

The resort has lodging available, but many opt to stay at the unique and notable hotels, motels, and B&Bs in the area. One of which is the Chambers House Bed and Breakfast, at one time a schoolhouse built in 1904, now a mainstay for the local experience. Adding to the stay, if anything were to happen, the town would have sufficient medical facilities, including the Pinedale Medical Clinic.

Riverton

A town of the Rockies, Riverton promises much and sure does deliver. Appealing to those for its lower cost of living and cheaper than average houses (30.6% less, making the typical home $234,700), and its relatively low pollution (83/ 100 for air quality and a staggering 84/100 for the superfund index), Riverton's specialty is to be found in the rare and natural landmarks that few places can compare to.

Perhaps the most famous is the Castle Gardens Petroglyphs Site. It is a wondrous location with a natural cliff face of eroded sandstone and mysterious petroglyphs that run for miles. Believed to have been carved by the Athabascans around 1000 C.E., the mystical site shares the limelight and pairs nicely with Wind River Heritage Center. A specialty museum that seeks to shed light on the area's earliest inhabitants (including the Athabascans) and history.

If one is wondering about lodging, Riverton has plenty, including the standard chain hotels, as well as more unique hotels such as the Wind River Hotel and Casino. In the same vein, the town includes multiple clinics and its largest facility, the Mountain View Regional Hospital.

Cody

If the Old West is dead, then its remains are at Cody. If its spirit is alive, then Cody is keeping it well. Despite its low violent crime (12.8) and its healthy physicians per capita (Cody's is 223 per 100,000 people, and the average is 210), what draws many to Cody is its heritage.

Founded in 1896 by Colonel William F. "Buffalo Bill" Cody, the town preserves that tiny slice of life from the late 19th and early 20th century. Proof of this can be found in the emphasis of their legend, Buffalo Bill. Firstly, they founded the Buffalo Bill Center of the West, a large structure that is not a singular museum but five, including the Buffalo Bill Museum, the Cody Firearms Museum, the Whitney Western Art Museum, the Draper Natural History Museum, and finally, the Plains Indian Museum. In a more interactive structure, Cody is also home to Old Trail Town, a recreated village complete with saloons and homes that at one time would have been a common sight in the past.

All of these can be experienced and traveled to easily from Buffalo Bill's Irma Hotel, a structure built in 1902 that became a Wild West gem. It has even managed to land a spot on the National Register of Historic Places. Don't forget the easy access to healthcare centers in the area as well, as Cody's main hospital (Cody Regional Health) is a street over from the Cody Firearms Museum.

Discover Your Perfect Wyoming Retreat

There is much to experience in Wyoming, certainly more than what can be felt in only a lifetime. This, however, does not take away from its beauty. Many of its small towns, places of tranquility, are worth visiting and enjoying at least once. Perfect for retirees wanting to get away from it all and live comfortably, the most challenging problem is not if they should move to one of these gems, but which.