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Quality of Life in Powell, 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
18% below national average
The Real Cost of Living in Powell, WY for 2026
| Tier | Individual | Family (4) |
|---|---|---|
| Survival | $14k | $26k |
| Comfortable | $52k | $76k |
| Luxury | $118k+ | $182k+ |
| Elite (Top 5%) | $159k+ | $246k+ |
86%
The Area Signal
A metric tracking the socioeconomic signals of the area.
Limited data for this area
Limited data for this area
Hobbies
Explore the areaGroceries
1 within 10 miles
Gas
2 within 10 miles
Hospital
2 within 20 miles
Airport
SLC — Salt Lake City International
Post Office
Critical Amenities
Quality-of-Life Analysis
Powell, Wyoming, presents a notably affordable quality of life that attracts a mix of families, retirees, and outdoor enthusiasts, with a cost-of-living index of 82—well below the national average of 100. The town’s population skews toward middle-income households and long-term residents, with a median home value of $265,400 and median rent of $856, making it one of the more accessible communities in the Bighorn Basin. This affordability, combined with a tight-knit social fabric and proximity to Yellowstone National Park, draws people seeking a slower, more secure pace of life without sacrificing access to nature.
Cost of living, housing affordability, and how Powell compares to Cody and Billings
Powell’s cost of living is roughly 18% below the U.S. average, and housing costs are the primary driver of that advantage. The median home value of $265,400 is significantly lower than in nearby Cody (around $380,000) and far below Billings, Montana (approximately $420,000). Renters also benefit: the median rent of $856 is about 30% cheaper than comparable units in Cody. With an average commute of just 17 minutes, residents save substantially on transportation costs—a factor that further stretches household budgets. Property taxes in Park County are relatively low, typically around 0.6% of assessed value, which keeps monthly housing costs predictable. For a family earning the median household income in Powell (roughly $60,000), homeownership is attainable, whereas in Cody or Billings it would require a significantly higher income or a longer commute.
Local amenities, schools, and what daily life is like for families and retirees
Daily life in Powell revolves around a compact, walkable downtown anchored by the Powell Branch of the Park County Library and the historic Rialto Theater. The Park County School District #1 serves the area with three elementary schools, one middle school, and Powell High School, which consistently posts graduation rates above 90% and offers dual-enrollment programs through Northwest College—a two-year institution located in town. For groceries and errands, residents rely on a local Safeway and a handful of independent shops, while most big-box retail and medical specialists are a 25-minute drive to Cody. Outdoor recreation is immediate: the Shoshone National Forest and Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area are within 30 minutes, and the Powell Golf Club provides a nine-hole course for retirees and weekend players. The town’s rhythm is quiet—restaurants and cafes close by 8 p.m. on weeknights—and community events like the Park County Fair and the Powell Rodeo Series anchor the social calendar from June through August.
Powell is best suited for people who value affordability, short commutes, and a low-crime environment over urban nightlife or career diversity. Families with school-age children benefit from the strong local schools and safe streets, while retirees appreciate the low cost of living and access to outdoor recreation without the crowds of Jackson Hole. Remote workers and tradespeople will find the housing market forgiving, though job opportunities outside of education, healthcare, and agriculture are limited. For anyone seeking a quiet, financially sustainable life in the shadow of the Rockies, Powell offers a rare combination of low costs and high natural amenity access.
Crime in Powell, WY
Lower crime rates than 84% of comparable U.S. locations.
Violent CrimeViolent Crime Analysis
Property CrimeProperty Crime Analysis
Crime Analysis
Powell, Wyoming, is a notably safe community, with violent crime rates significantly below national averages and property crime rates that, while present, remain lower than many comparably sized towns across the state and country. The town’s isolation in the Big Horn Basin and its strong community-oriented culture contribute to a general sense of security that residents and visitors consistently report. For those evaluating a move to Powell, the data paints a picture of a low-risk environment, though no community is entirely crime-free.
Crime in context
Powell’s violent crime rate stands at 227.8 incidents per 100,000 residents, a figure that is roughly 35% lower than the national average. Property crime, at 759.3 per 100,000, is also below the U.S. median, though it represents a more common concern than violent offenses. Compared to the state of Wyoming as a whole, Powell’s violent crime rate is slightly above the state average (which hovers around 200 per 100K), but its property crime rate is notably lower than the statewide figure of approximately 1,800 per 100K. This contrast is largely due to Powell’s smaller population and lack of the transient, high-density issues found in larger Wyoming hubs like Cheyenne or Casper. Importantly, Powell is not situated near a large, liberal-leaning metropolitan area with progressive prosecutorial policies—a factor that often correlates with higher recidivism and reduced public safety in other regions. The local justice system in Park County tends to emphasize accountability, which aligns with the community’s conservative values and helps maintain lower crime rates.
What residents experience
Daily life in Powell is characterized by a low fear of crime. Most property offenses involve theft from unlocked vehicles or outbuildings, rather than violent break-ins. The Powell Police Department maintains a visible presence, and neighborhood watch programs are active in several subdivisions. Residents commonly report feeling safe walking alone at night, even in the downtown core near the Park County Courthouse. The most frequent calls for service involve minor disturbances, traffic violations, and occasional alcohol-related incidents near the college campus. Because Powell lacks the systemic issues of larger urban centers—such as gang activity, organized retail theft, or drug-driven property crime waves—the community’s safety profile remains stable year over year.
Neighborhood-level variation
Crime in Powell is not evenly distributed, though the variation is modest. The area around the Northwest College campus and the commercial corridor along U.S. Highway 14A sees slightly higher rates of petty theft and vandalism, particularly during the academic year. In contrast, the residential neighborhoods west of the railroad tracks and south of the Powell Municipal Airport are among the safest, with very few reported incidents. The outlying rural subdivisions, such as those near the Shoshone River, experience virtually no crime beyond occasional trespassing. Overall, no neighborhood in Powell carries a reputation for danger, and home values reflect this uniformity in safety.
* Values derived from national, state, county, city and local statistics and may differ in a specific area. Last updated: 2026-04-21T11:32:11.000Z
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