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Quality of Life in Moorcroft, WY
Above-average quality of iife. The area offers a reasonable cost of living, decent mobility, and a mix of neighborhood amenities.
What does Quality of Life tell us?
Quality of Life blends cost of living, nearby amenities, socioeconomic signals, and neighborhood character. City-level scores represent the whole municipality; individual neighborhoods can differ.
What does this tell us?
Quality of Life blends cost of living, nearby amenities, socioeconomic signals, and neighborhood character. City-level scores represent the whole municipality; individual neighborhoods can differ.
Cost of Living
15% below national average
The Real Cost of Living in Moorcroft, WY for 2026
| Tier | Individual | Family (4) |
|---|---|---|
| Survival | $16k | $31k |
| Comfortable | $44k | $65k |
| Luxury | $88k+ | $137k+ |
| Elite (Top 5%) | $104k+ | $161k+ |
102%
The Area Signal
A metric tracking the socioeconomic signals of the area.
Hobbies
Explore the areaGroceries
0 within 10 miles
Gas
1 within 10 miles
Hospital
0 within 20 miles
Airport
DEN — Denver International
Post Office
Critical Amenities
Quality-of-Life Analysis
Moorcroft, Wyoming, offers a notably affordable quality of life that attracts a mix of working families, energy-sector employees, and retirees seeking a quieter pace. With a cost of living index of 85—15 points below the U.S. average—the town provides financial breathing room that is increasingly rare in the Mountain West. The population skews toward middle-income households, many employed in nearby coal mines, oil fields, or supporting industries, giving the community a blue-collar, self-reliant character.
Cost of living, housing, and affordability compared to nearby towns
Housing in Moorcroft is the primary driver of its low cost of living. The median home value sits at $227,900, roughly $100,000 less than the Wyoming statewide median of around $330,000 and dramatically cheaper than Gillette’s median of approximately $350,000. Renters also benefit, with a median monthly rent of $1,025, which is about $200 less than the state average. For context, a comparable rental in Gillette typically runs $1,200–$1,400. The average commute of 18.5 minutes is short by national standards, meaning residents spend less on fuel and vehicle wear—a real advantage given the area’s long winters and rural distances. Utility costs are moderate, though heating bills can spike in winter; overall, a household earning the county median income of roughly $65,000 can comfortably afford a mortgage here, whereas the same income would be stretched in nearby cities like Gillette or Sheridan.
Local amenities, schools, and what daily life feels like
Daily life in Moorcroft revolves around a compact downtown with a grocery store, a few local restaurants, and basic services. For major shopping, medical care, or entertainment, residents drive 15–20 minutes east to Gillette, which offers a Walmart Supercenter, a regional hospital, and dining chains. The town’s K–12 school system, part of Crook County School District #1, serves roughly 300 students across Moorcroft Elementary and Moorcroft Secondary School; the elementary school has a student-teacher ratio of about 12:1, allowing for individualized attention. Outdoor recreation is a central part of life—the nearby Black Hills National Forest and Keyhole State Park (a 20-minute drive) provide hiking, fishing, and boating. Winters are long and cold, with average January highs around 30°F, so snowmobiling and ice fishing are common pastimes. The community is tight-knit; annual events like the Moorcroft Rodeo and the town’s Fourth of July celebration draw nearly every resident. There is no major nightlife or cultural scene—life here is quiet, family-oriented, and paced by the seasons.
Moorcroft is best suited for those who prioritize affordability, outdoor access, and a low-key lifestyle over urban amenities. It works well for remote workers who can tolerate limited internet options (fiber is not widely available), for families who want a safe, small-school environment, and for energy-industry workers who commute to Gillette or the Powder River Basin. Retirees on fixed incomes also find the low housing costs appealing. However, those seeking diverse dining, cultural events, or a robust job market outside of mining and energy may find the town too limited. For the right person, Moorcroft delivers a solid, economical quality of life with genuine community roots.
Crime in Moorcroft, WY
Lower crime rates than 93% of comparable U.S. locations.
Violent CrimeViolent Crime Analysis
Property CrimeProperty Crime Analysis
Crime Analysis
Moorcroft, Wyoming, is one of the safest small towns in the state, with a violent crime rate of 0 per 100,000 residents—a figure that places it among the most secure communities in the nation. Property crime, however, registers at 574.2 per 100,000, a rate that is slightly above the Wyoming average but still well below the national median. For residents and those considering relocation, the data paints a picture of a quiet, low-risk environment where serious violent incidents are virtually nonexistent, though opportunistic property offenses warrant standard precautions.
Crime in context
Moorcroft’s violent crime rate of zero is a standout statistic, reflecting a community where aggravated assault, robbery, and homicide are essentially absent. This places Moorcroft in the safest tier of Wyoming towns, far below the state’s violent crime rate of roughly 240 per 100,000 and the national average of about 380 per 100,000. Property crime at 574.2 per 100,000 is higher than the Wyoming average of approximately 500 per 100,000 but remains significantly lower than the U.S. median of around 1,950 per 100,000. The primary property offenses in Moorcroft are larceny-theft and occasional burglary, with motor vehicle theft being rare. The town’s isolation—located in Crook County near the Black Hills—and its small population of roughly 1,200 contribute to these low figures, as does the absence of the systemic crime drivers found in larger, more liberal-leaning jurisdictions.
What residents experience
Daily life in Moorcroft is marked by a strong sense of security. Residents commonly leave doors unlocked during the day, and children play outside without constant supervision. The local police department, supplemented by the Crook County Sheriff’s Office, maintains a visible but unobtrusive presence. Property crime, while present, typically involves unlocked vehicles or sheds rather than forced entries. The town’s conservative judicial philosophy—Crook County is a deeply Republican area with a focus on law-and-order prosecution—means that offenders face consistent consequences, deterring repeat offenses. This stands in contrast to larger metro areas where progressive district attorneys and lenient sentencing can lead to higher recidivism and more criminals on the street. In Moorcroft, the justice system prioritizes victim and public safety, reinforcing the community’s low-crime equilibrium.
Neighborhood-level variation in Moorcroft is minimal due to the town’s small size and homogeneous housing stock. The core residential blocks around the town center and the newer subdivisions on the eastern edge both report similarly low incident rates. The only slight uptick in property crime occurs near the Interstate 90 corridor, where transient traffic passes through, but even there, incidents are infrequent. For anyone seeking a safe, predictable environment in northeastern Wyoming, Moorcroft’s crime data and local governance offer strong reassurance.
* Values derived from national, state, county, city and local statistics and may differ in a specific area. Last updated: 2026-04-21T11:34:17.000Z
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