9 Best Small Towns In Wyoming For Retirees

After working and saving all of one's adult life, people who take retirement are entitled to slow down at last. Wyoming makes a great retirement destination, whether for its famous mountains or its slower pace of life. It helps that the state is The United States' least populous, with just 581,000 inhabitants. That translates to the feeling that Wyomans have the state all to themselves, retirees certainly included. Bankrate even named Wyoming the best state in the country for retirees in 2015. These towns appeal to lovers of life at any age and offer a few perfect ideas in Wyoming for a retirement move.

Ranchettes

With a population of around 6,000, Ranchettes, in Laramie County, offers a quiet retirement option. Living in the town, which is just north of Cheyenne, gives residents a rural feel that is still close to the city. Ranchettes' proximity to Cheyenne offers access to a host of parks, including the local favorite Lions Park, which is part of why the place scores high on health and fitness, according to the real estate website Niche.com. For grandparents who may be raising grandchildren or otherwise need education options, the town's public schools are ranked above the state average.

Riverton

Known as a historical crossroads for explorers, cowboys, and Indigenous peoples, the town of Riverton, sitting along the Yellowstone Highway, has a population of around 10,800 people. The town is an ideal choice for retirees: it makes a wonderful spot to settle down in a welcoming, close-knit community. Annual local events include the Riverton Rendezvous Balloon Rally held each summer, and the Fremont County Fair. Named after the four waterways surrounding Riverton, this location has plenty of nature to explore and lies close to the Castle Gardens Petroglyph Site and the Wind River area. The Riverton Museum rounds out the cultural attractions that make Riverton a place to settle post-career.

Buffalo

Home to about 4,600 people, Buffalo is a historic town located almost equidistantly between  Yellowstone National Park and Mount Rushmore. With over 15,000 artifacts, Buffalo's historic Jim Gatchell Memorial Museum stands out among Old Western museums — and is ideal for retirees interested in history. Buffalo also hosts a downtown reminiscent of the pioneer-era West, including historical buildings like the Occidental Hotel. For retirees looking to maximize their time in nature, Buffalo balances the natural West with cultural points of interest.

Worland

Situated east of the Bighorn River and surrounded by natural bounty, Worland, with a population of approximately 5,000, will satisfy many retirees' requirements. East of town is the majestic Bighorn Mountains. Go north, and you will find fascinating petroglyphs; to the south, mineral hot springs are well worth the trip. For retirees interested in prehistoric history, the Washakie Cultural Center and Museum offers exhibits on early mammoth hunters, paleontology, and early settlers. Another plus for seniors is the Worland Senior Center, which offers specialized care.

Jackson

The largest town in Teton County, with a modest but growing population of around 10,700, Jackson is a lovely small town. Its skiing and other wintertime draws are famous, from Jackson Hole Mountain and Snow King Mountain to Grand Targhee. Jackson promises a good deal for retirees looking to have fun outdoors while continuing to keep active. The town is also popular for its location near two National Parks: Yellowstone National Park and Grand Tetons National Park. Jackson has reliable healthcare services like the St. John Health center, which is the primary hospital in the city.

Powell

Set in tranquil Park County, Powell is a small yet beautiful town of 6,400 residents in northwest Wyoming. Originally inhabited by numerous Indigenous people groups, the area features a history that spans millennia. More recently, in the early 1800s, the trader and frontiersman John Colter entered the Powell Valley, the first time a non-indigenous person set foot in the region. Powell was incorporated as a town in 1909.

Due to this fascinating history, Powell is a great spot for seniors who enjoy both nature and history. The quaint town lies 75 miles east of Yellowstone National Park. Powell is proud of its wide-open vistas and is home to a diverse economy with friendly locals and a high quality of life. For seniors especially, other selling points include an aquatics center, and the local Powell Golf Club.

Torrington

Along the dramatic North Platte River and situated near the Oregon and California trails in Wyoming's Goshen County, Torrington is an underrated small town of approximately 6,500 people. Torrington's best features include superb public services and healthcare options, like Banner Health Clinic. Seniors and their younger family members can explore the campus of Eastern Wyoming College, a two-year school with nearly 2,000 students. Torrington's other attributes include its Homesteaders Museum, Pioneer Park, Sports Complex, and the Goshen County Senior Friendship Center, a retirement community.

Lander

Slightly larger than some Wyoming towns, Lander, with a population of 7,600, is a charming spot in the center of the state. This quaint community, tucked at the foot of the Wind River Mountain Range, boasts dramatic mountain scenery and a diverse array of outdoor options. It is perfect for retirees looking to spend their day in the beauty of nature and fresh air. In addition, Lander is a top choice for seniors because it has a large number of retirement communities and many health services options, like the Lander Senior Center.

Cody

With just over 10,200 residents, Cody blends a small-town feel with more options than elsewhere. Seated in Wyoming's northwest, Cody is home to beautiful natural scenery and is also near Yellowstone National Park. Nature-loving seniors will swoon at all the natural wonders this region can offer. In terms of weather, Cody has warm summers and fairly dry, cold winters. The culture in Cody is influenced by cowboys and the history of the American West. This includes rodeos, the Plains Indian Museum, a firearms museum, and an Old Trail Town — a reconstruction of the town when Cody had saloons, general stores, and western storefronts from a bygone era.

Wyoming, as an attractive state in terms of tourism, a low-income tax, and a vast array of natural wonderlands, is a great place to consider retiring. Its low population offers calm and a more restful style of living — or the national parks and outdoor choices that more active seniors might want. Seniors who choose to make the state their retirement destination have options to choose from, and not just from among the nine quaint places above. With so much to enjoy, it's no wonder that Wyoming's retirees chose a state once ranked number one.