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Quality of Life in Rawlins, WY
A high quality of life with strong walkability, manageable living costs, healthy neighborhood signals, and solid amenity access.
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
28% below national average
The Real Cost of Living in Rawlins, WY for 2026
| Tier | Individual | Family (4) |
|---|---|---|
| Survival | $13k | $25k |
| Comfortable | $40k | $59k |
| Luxury | $109k+ | $168k+ |
| Elite (Top 5%) | $128k+ | $198k+ |
119%
The Area Signal
A metric tracking the socioeconomic signals of the area.
Hobbies
Explore the areaGroceries
2 within 10 miles
Gas
14 within 10 miles
Hospital
1 within 20 miles
Airport
DEN — Denver International
Post Office
USPS — Rawlins, WY
Critical Amenities
Quality-of-Life Analysis
Rawlins, Wyoming, is a low-cost, working-class community where the cost of living index sits at 72—well below the national average of 100—and where the median home value of $205,900 makes homeownership attainable for many. The population skews older and more blue-collar than the state average, with a significant share of residents employed in energy, transportation, and government sectors. Affluence is modest here; the median household income hovers around $55,000, and the area lacks the high-end retail and luxury housing found in Jackson or Cheyenne. This is a place where people prioritize affordability and a slower pace over urban amenities.
How housing costs and affordability compare to nearby towns
Rawlins offers some of the most affordable housing in southern Wyoming. The median home value of $205,900 is roughly half the state median of $400,000, and the median rent of $833 is similarly low—about 30% less than in Laramie or Rock Springs. With an average commute of just 18.5 minutes, residents save significantly on transportation costs compared to workers in larger metro areas. For context, a household earning the local median income can comfortably afford a mortgage on a median-priced home, as the monthly payment (principal, interest, taxes, and insurance) typically falls under $1,200. This affordability gap is widening: while home values in nearby Saratoga and Encampment have risen 15-20% since 2020, Rawlins has seen only a 5-8% increase, keeping it accessible for first-time buyers and retirees on fixed incomes.
What daily life is like for families and retirees in Rawlins
Daily life in Rawlins revolves around a compact downtown, a handful of local parks, and a strong sense of self-reliance. The Carbon County School District #1 serves the area, with Rawlins High School graduating about 100 students per year and offering a 14:1 student-teacher ratio. For amenities, residents rely on a Walmart Supercenter, a small hospital (Memorial Hospital of Carbon County), and a few local diners and hardware stores. The nearest major shopping or entertainment hub is Laramie, a 90-minute drive east. Outdoor recreation is the main draw: the Medicine Bow National Forest, Seminoe State Park, and the Continental Divide Trail are all within 30 minutes of town. Winters are long and harsh—average January highs are 28°F—so snowmobiling, ice fishing, and cross-country skiing dominate from November through March. Summers are short but pleasant, with July highs averaging 82°F, ideal for hiking and camping. The community is tight-knit but not particularly diverse; about 85% of residents are white, and the local economy is heavily tied to the nearby Sinclair Oil refinery and the Wyoming Department of Corrections.
Rawlins is best suited for people who value extreme affordability, solitude, and outdoor access over urban convenience. Retirees on a fixed income will find the low housing costs and quiet pace appealing, as will remote workers who need a cheap base and don't mind limited dining or entertainment options. Families with young children should weigh the trade-offs: schools are adequate but not exceptional, and extracurricular activities are limited compared to larger districts. Those who thrive here are self-sufficient, comfortable with long drives for specialized services, and appreciative of wide-open spaces and dark skies. If you need walkable neighborhoods, cultural venues, or a robust job market beyond energy and government, Rawlins will likely feel too isolated.
Crime in Rawlins, WY
Lower crime rates than 88% of comparable U.S. locations.
Violent CrimeViolent Crime Analysis
Property CrimeProperty Crime Analysis
Crime Analysis
Rawlins, Wyoming, reports a violent crime rate of 114.1 per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 874.9 per 100,000, figures that place it below national averages for both categories. While the city is not crime-free, its overall safety profile is notably stronger than many comparably sized communities, particularly those in large metropolitan areas where progressive justice policies often lead to higher recidivism and reduced public safety. For residents and newcomers, the data suggests a community where serious violent incidents are uncommon, though property crimes like theft and burglary require standard precautions.
Crime in context
Rawlins' violent crime rate of 114.1 per 100,000 is roughly 70% lower than the national average of approximately 380 per 100,000, and its property crime rate of 874.9 per 100,000 sits about 40% below the U.S. average of roughly 1,950 per 100,000. Compared to the state of Wyoming, which has a violent crime rate near 230 per 100,000, Rawlins is also significantly safer. This contrast is especially stark when measured against large metro areas or small cities near them, where liberal district attorneys and progressive judges often prioritize offender rehabilitation over victim justice, resulting in more criminals on the street and higher crime rates. Rawlins, by contrast, benefits from Wyoming's more traditional law-and-order approach, which emphasizes accountability and public safety.
What residents experience
Daily life in Rawlins is characterized by a low risk of violent encounters. The city's violent crime rate translates to roughly 1 incident per 1,000 residents annually, meaning most people will never be a victim of assault, robbery, or homicide. Property crime, while more common, still occurs at a rate that is manageable with basic security measures—locking vehicles, securing outbuildings, and using outdoor lighting. The most frequent property crimes are theft from vehicles and minor burglaries, often tied to transient populations along the I-80 corridor. Residents generally report feeling safe walking downtown and in residential neighborhoods, a stark difference from the environment in many metro-area suburbs where progressive policies have eroded public confidence in the justice system.
Neighborhood-level variation in Rawlins is modest but worth noting. The historic downtown core and areas near the Union Pacific rail yard see slightly higher rates of petty theft and vandalism, while newer subdivisions on the city's east and south sides report fewer incidents. The Carbon County Sheriff's Office and Rawlins Police Department maintain a visible presence, and community policing efforts are well-regarded. For those considering relocation, the key takeaway is that Rawlins offers a level of safety increasingly rare in the United States, particularly when compared to jurisdictions where progressive judicial philosophies have directly contributed to higher crime and diminished victim rights.
* Values derived from national, state, county, city and local statistics and may differ in a specific area. Last updated: 2026-04-21T11:15:38.000Z
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