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Quality of Life in Pinedale, 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
6% above national average
The Real Cost of Living in Pinedale, WY for 2026
| Tier | Individual | Family (4) |
|---|---|---|
| Survival | $20k | $39k |
| Comfortable | $54k | $80k |
| Luxury | $135k+ | $210k+ |
94%
The Area Signal
A metric tracking the socioeconomic signals of the area.
Hobbies
Explore the areaGroceries
0 within 10 miles
Gas
3 within 10 miles
Hospital
0 within 20 miles
Airport
SLC — Salt Lake City International
Post Office
USPS — Pinedale, WY
Critical Amenities
Quality-of-Life Analysis
Pinedale, Wyoming, is a high-affluence community anchored by the energy sector, with a cost of living index of 106 (6% above the U.S. average) that reflects its remote mountain setting and robust local economy. The town of roughly 2,000 residents is dominated by professionals in oil and gas extraction, ranching, and outdoor recreation guiding, creating a demographic mix of transient industry workers and multi-generational Wyoming families. This combination produces a distinctly pragmatic, hardworking social fabric where six-figure household incomes are common but ostentation is rare.
Cost of living, housing, and affordability compared to Jackson Hole
Pinedale’s housing market is expensive by Wyoming standards but remains a bargain compared to Jackson Hole, 75 miles to the south. The median home value of $279,300 is roughly one-third the median in Teton County, while the median rent of $1,284 is about half of what a comparable unit would cost in Jackson. The overall cost of living index of 106 is driven primarily by housing and transportation—groceries and utilities are near the national average. The average commute of just over 18 minutes is exceptionally short for a resource-economy town, as most workers live within Sublette County and drive to nearby gas fields rather than enduring long mountain passes. For renters, the market is tight: vacancy rates hover around 2%, and many energy companies lease blocks of apartments for rotational workers, squeezing supply for year-round residents.
Schools, outdoor amenities, and daily life rhythm
Pinedale’s daily rhythm is dictated by the seasons and the energy industry’s shift schedules. Sublette County School District #1 serves the area, with Pinedale High School graduating roughly 70 students per year and offering strong vocational programs tied to local trades. The town’s crown jewel is the White Pine Ski Area, a 10-minute drive from downtown, offering 27 trails and no lift lines—a stark contrast to Jackson Hole’s crowds. Summer brings world-class fishing on the Green River and hiking in the Bridger-Teton National Forest, while winter revolves around snowmobiling and Nordic skiing. The main commercial corridor, Pine Street, hosts a grocery store, hardware store, and a handful of restaurants and bars that serve as de facto community centers. There is no major hospital in town; the nearest full-service emergency room is in Jackson, a 90-minute drive over the treacherous Hoback Canyon in winter.
This combination of high wages, low commute times, and immediate access to wilderness makes Pinedale ideal for energy-sector professionals who value outdoor recreation over urban amenities. Families with school-aged children will find a safe, tight-knit environment, though the lack of childcare options and limited retail diversity can be frustrating. Retirees and remote workers on a fixed income may struggle with the housing costs and isolation, but for those who prioritize quiet, self-reliant mountain living and can afford the premium, Pinedale offers a quality of life that few comparably sized towns can match.
Crime in Pinedale, WY
Generally safer than 72% of comparable U.S. locations.
Violent CrimeViolent Crime Analysis
Property CrimeProperty Crime Analysis
Crime Analysis
Pinedale, Wyoming, presents a mixed safety profile for potential residents. While the town's violent crime rate of 170 incidents per 100,000 residents is notably lower than the national average, its property crime rate of 1,006.2 per 100,000 exceeds both state and national benchmarks, indicating a higher risk for theft and burglary. Understanding these figures in context is essential for anyone evaluating a move to this Sublette County community.
Crime in context
Pinedale's violent crime rate of 170 per 100,000 is roughly half the national average of 380 per 100,000, and it aligns closely with Wyoming's statewide rate of approximately 230 per 100,000. This suggests that serious offenses like assault, robbery, and homicide are relatively uncommon. However, the property crime rate of 1,006.2 per 100,000 tells a different story. It is significantly higher than the national average of 1,954 per 100,000 and also exceeds Wyoming's statewide property crime rate of roughly 1,500 per 100,000. This disparity means residents face a heightened risk of property-related offenses compared to the typical Wyoming town. It is important to note that Pinedale operates under a conservative legal framework typical of rural Wyoming, where local judges and prosecutors generally prioritize public safety and victim rights over progressive leniency—a factor that can influence both crime deterrence and community confidence in the justice system.
What residents experience
For daily life in Pinedale, the low violent crime rate means most residents feel safe walking downtown or letting children play in their yards. The primary concern is property crime, which often manifests as vehicle break-ins, theft from construction sites, and occasional residential burglaries, particularly during the busy summer tourist season when the population swells. Local law enforcement, the Sublette County Sheriff's Office, maintains a visible presence and responds promptly to reports. Residents commonly adopt preventive measures such as locking vehicles, securing outbuildings, and using outdoor lighting. The town's tight-knit community also serves as a natural deterrent, with neighbors looking out for one another.
Neighborhood-level variation
Crime in Pinedale is not evenly distributed. The downtown core and areas near the Green River Rendezvous site see more property crime due to higher foot traffic and tourist activity. Residential neighborhoods farther from the town center, such as those along Pine Street or near the golf course, report fewer incidents. The newer subdivisions on the outskirts, like those off Fremont Lake Road, tend to have the lowest crime rates, benefiting from lower density and more vigilant homeowners. Overall, while Pinedale is not crime-free, its violent crime risk is low, and property crime, though elevated, is manageable with basic precautions.
* Values derived from national, state, county, city and local statistics and may differ in a specific area. Last updated: 2026-04-21T11:36:24.000Z
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