#2Powell
Park County · 6,574 peopleStrongest: walkability A, schools A·lowest: jobs & income C
B+CostB−SafetyASchoolsB+HealthCJobsAWalkAHazards
Powell, #1 on this list · Photo: Montanabw · CC BY-SA 4.0Wyoming rankings · 2026
Best small towns in Wyoming
Powell ranks first of Wyoming’s 17 graded small towns (2,500–9,999 residents), with an A−: walkability (A) and schools (A) are its strongest grades; jobs & income (C) is its lowest. 4 of the 17 (24%) grade A− or better nationally, against 25% of U.S. towns.
The overall grade, sorted: cost of living, safety, schools, health, jobs & income, walkability and hazard risk, from Census, FBI, state, CDC, EPA and FEMA data. How grades work
#2A−
#4Douglas
Converse County · 6,469 peopleStrongest: walkability A, cost of living A−·lowest: jobs & income C−
A−CostBSafetyBSchoolsBHealthC−JobsAWalkBHazards
#5Newcastle
Weston County · 3,349 peopleStrongest: cost of living A+, walkability A−·lowest: schools C+
A+CostB−SafetyC+SchoolsB−HealthBJobsA−WalkB−Hazards
Where they are: Two of the top 10 are in Natrona County.
All 17 small towns
Overall score, highest first. The score (0–100) blends the seven livability grades and sets the order; the letter places that score among every U.S. town of 2,500+, and A+ is the top 5%, so neighbors on the list often share a letter. Each town links to its page, where the grade sheet shows every subject. The rank is the town’s place among all 28 Wyoming towns.
17 towns ranked. Not here? See why a town may be missing.
#TownScoreGradeWhat drives it
2PowellPark County · 6,574 people65.1top 16.7%A−Strongest: walkability A, schools A·lowest: jobs & income C
4DouglasConverse County · 6,469 people62.5top 22.7%A−Strongest: walkability A, cost of living A−·lowest: jobs & income C−
5NewcastleWeston County · 3,349 people62.2top 23.5%A−Strongest: cost of living A+, walkability A−·lowest: schools C+
6ThermopolisHot Springs County · 2,721 people62.0top 24.1%A−Strongest: walkability A, safety A−·lowest: hazard risk D
8WorlandWashakie County · 4,730 people59.0top 32.0%B+Strongest: walkability A, cost of living A−·lowest: hazard risk D
11EvansvilleNatrona County · 2,875 people55.8top 40.7%BStrongest: health A−, cost of living B+·lowest: schools C
13BuffaloJohnson County · 4,733 people54.6top 43.6%BStrongest: walkability A, schools B+·lowest: jobs & income C−
15LanderFremont County · 7,379 people51.8bottom 48.4%B−Strongest: walkability A, health A−·lowest: jobs & income C−
16Ranchettesunincorporated, Laramie County · 5,949 people50.3bottom 44.4%C+Strongest: jobs & income A, health A−·lowest: schools C−
17Bar NunnNatrona County · 3,012 people49.1bottom 41.3%C+Strongest: jobs & income A−, cost of living B·lowest: walkability D−
18WheatlandPlatte County · 3,516 people46.9bottom 35.0%C+Strongest: walkability A, cost of living B+·lowest: jobs & income C−
21MillsNatrona County · 4,634 people43.6bottom 26.9%CStrongest: safety B+, cost of living B·lowest: jobs & income D
22RawlinsCarbon County · 7,745 people43.3bottom 26.2%CStrongest: cost of living A, hazard risk B·lowest: jobs & income D
24TorringtonGoshen County · 6,205 people39.0bottom 17.0%C−Strongest: walkability B+, hazard risk B−·lowest: jobs & income D
25Warren AFBunincorporated, Laramie County · 2,936 people38.3bottom 15.8%C−Strongest: health A−, hazard risk B+·lowest: cost of living D−
26Fox Farm-Collegeunincorporated, Laramie County · 4,019 people36.0bottom 11.9%DStrongest: hazard risk A+, walkability A−·lowest: health D
28South Greeleyunincorporated, Laramie County · 4,631 people34.2bottom 9.7%DStrongest: hazard risk A, cost of living B+·lowest: jobs & income C−
Method
How this list is made
Each town’s overall grade blends seven livability grades: cost of living (weight 18), safety (18), schools (16), health (14), jobs & income (12), walkability (8) and hazard risk (4). A town needs 2,500+ residents and three of the first four. Letters are national, so an A here means the same as an A in any state; the list is the same towns in the same order, ranked within Wyoming. Towns without their own FBI figures are graded on the rest and their page says why.
Data years: crime 2023–2025 (FBI), Census ACS 2020–2024, CDC PLACES 2025, state school tests. How grades work
Quick answers
Questions people ask
What is the best small town in Wyoming?
Among 17 graded towns of 2,500 to 9,999 residents, Powell (Park County) ranks first, with an A−; walkability (A) and schools (A) are its strongest grades; jobs & income (C) is its lowest. Douglas and Newcastle follow.
How are these towns ranked?
By the overall grade, which blends seven livability grades from public data. The letter is national; the rank is within Wyoming. The full method is on How grades work.
Why isn’t my town on this list?
The list covers towns of 2,500 to 9,999 residents with an overall grade (17 in Wyoming). 30 smaller places have subject grades only; Larger towns are on the best places to live list. Every town is on the Wyoming page.
Go deeper
All Wyoming rankings →More Wyoming lists
Every list ranks the same 2,500+ towns, so a town’s rank means the same thing on each.
Best places to live28 towns · #1 JacksonMost affordable towns28 towns · #1 NewcastleSafest towns19 towns · #1 ThermopolisTowns with the best schools28 towns · #1 SheridanHealthiest towns28 towns · #1 JacksonBest towns for jobs & income28 towns · #1 RanchettesMost walkable towns28 towns · #1 JacksonTowns with the lowest natural-hazard risk28 towns · #1 Fox Farm-CollegeBest towns for the outdoors28 towns · #1 ThermopolisMost historic towns28 towns · #1 Warren AFBTowns with the most civic life24 towns · #1 ThermopolisTowns with the least snow26 towns · #1 PowellDescribed, no lettersSnowiest towns26 towns · #1 CasperDescribed, no lettersTowns with the mildest winters31 towns · #1 WheatlandDescribed, no lettersTowns with the hottest summers31 towns · #1 WorlandDescribed, no lettersTowns with the coolest summers31 towns · #1 JacksonDescribed, no lettersTowns with the highest incomes28 towns · #1 RanchettesDescribed, no lettersTowns with the lowest property taxes27 towns · #1 South GreeleyDescribed, no lettersFastest-growing towns24 towns · #1 MillsDescribed, no letters
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