The 10 Most Dangerous Cities In Wyoming


The most dangerous places in Wyoming are Riverton and Cheyenne for 2024 based on Saturday Night Science.

Most dangerous cities in Wyoming research summary. We analyzed the most recent FBI crime data using Saturday Night Science to determine the most dangerous cities in Wyoming.

We examined the violent and property crime per capita statistics for every place with over 2,000 residents. In total, we analyzed 26 Wyoming cities. Here are the results of our analysis:

  • The most dangerous city in Wyoming is Riverton based on the most recent FBI crime data.

  • The violent crime rate in Wyoming is 611 per 100k people.

  • The property crime rate in Wyoming is 3,407 per 100k people.

  • The safest city in Wyoming is Afton.

  • Wyoming is the 4most dangerous state in the United States.

Most Dangerous Cities In Wyoming Map


Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Table | Methodology | FAQs | References


You’d think the least populated state would have enough room between its residents to keep everyone happy and virtually crime-free. Well, that’s not the case for Wyoming’s most dangerous places.

Wyoming has some pretty dangerous places, and we wanted to know just how dangerous, so we consulted the numbers. We compiled a report on the most dangerous place to live in Wyoming for 2024.

Using Saturday Night Science, we analyzed 26 Wyoming cities’ latest FBI crime report for violent and property crime per capita. These cities include every place with over 2,000 residents. Wyoming’s most dangerous places face problems like high unemployment and poverty.

The Most Dangerous Cities In Wyoming For 2024

  1. Riverton
  2. Cheyenne
  3. Gillette
  4. Casper
  5. Evanston
  6. Wheatland
  7. Powell
  8. Rawlins
  9. Evansville
  10. Torrington

What is the most dangerous place in Wyoming? The most dangerous place in Wyoming is Riverton.

Take a look at the report below before making any life-changing decisions about where to live in Wyoming.

For more Wyoming reading, check out:

The 10 Most Dangerous Places To Live In Wyoming For 2024

Riverton, WY

Source: Public domain

Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 10,623
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 611 (Most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 3,407 (Second most dangerous)
Murders: 1
More on Riverton: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living

Riverton jumped no change position on this list from last year to “earn” the #1 spot for most dangerous city in Wyoming. That’s because violent crime increased and property crime rose by a similar amount.

While Riverton wasn’t the most violent place in Wyoming in 2022, it did have the second highest rate of rape and third highest murder rate statewide. So get home before dark if you’re visiting the Castle Gardens Petroglyph Site, or you might end up the protagonist of a horror movie.

On top of all the violence in Riverton, residents also had a 1 in 29 chance of being the victim of a property crime over 2022. That’s the second highest property crime rate in all of Wyoming.

Cheyenne, WY

Source: Wikipedia User Cliff from Arlington, VA (Outside Washington DC), USA | CC BY 2.0

Overall SnackAbility

8
/10

Population: 64,941
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 278 (Fifth most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 3,635 (Most dangerous)
Murders: 0
More on Cheyenne: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living

Wyoming’s capital and biggest city, Cheyenne, ranks as the state’s second most dangerous place to call home. Cheyenne’s overall crime rate is more than twice as high as the statewide average.

We hope nobody heists the Wyoming State Museum, because Cheyenne had the state’s highest property crime rate.

It’s not just a few broken windows and picked pockets going down in Cheyenne either. The city had the 16th highest murder rate in Wyoming, so nobody will blame you for keeping your guard up in Cheyenne.

Gillette, WY

Source: Wikipedia User MyName (Vasiliymeshko (talk)) | CC BY-SA 3.0

Overall SnackAbility

8
/10

Population: 32,320
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 324 (Third most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 1,967 (Eighth most dangerous)
Murders: 0
More on Gillette: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living

Gillette, the third most dangerous place to live in Wyoming in 2024, is plagued by a high crime rate, contributing to its unsafe reputation. With a population of 32,320, this city in Campbell County has experienced 105 violent crimes, including 30 rapes, 3 robberies, and 72 aggravated assaults. Regarding property crime, Gillette has seen 636 incidents, including 41 burglaries. These alarming statistics indicate the presence of criminal activity that threatens the safety and well-being of its residents.

In the heart of Wyoming, Gillette is known as the “Energy Capital of the Nation” due to its involvement in the coal, oil, and coalbed methane gas industries. However, with the decline in coal use across the United States, the local economy has suffered, leading to potential economic challenges for the community. Despite these difficulties, there is hope for improvement through proactive measures and community engagement.

Casper, WY

Source: Public domain

Overall SnackAbility

8
/10

Population: 58,244
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 212 (Eighth most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 2,848 (Fourth most dangerous)
Murders: 2
More on Casper: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living

Known for its cowboy culture and oil-rich land, Wyoming’s second biggest city, Casper, also ranks as the fourth most dangerous.

Casper had the fourth highest murder rate in Wyoming over 2022, as well as the third highest rate of rape cases. Overall, violent crime in Casper ranks as the eighth highest statewide.

Property crime is a whole lot more prevalent, with about five property crimes going down each day in Casper. That includes the fifth highest burglary rate in Wyoming and 167 car thefts, so invest in good security systems if you’re moving to Casper.

Evanston, WY

Source: Wikipedia User Tricia Simpson | CC BY-SA 3.0

Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 11,886
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 395 (Second most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 1,564 (11th most dangerous)
Murders: 0
More on Evanston: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living

Statistically, you have much more to fear from criminals than any wildlife at Bear River State Park if you’re living in Evanston.

While Evanston isn’t crazy violent overall, it did have the distinction of having the highest rate of rape cases in Wyoming. Not exactly something people want to be associated with their hometown.

Property crime in Evanston ranks as the 11th highest in Wyoming. Evanston wasn’t even on this list in years past, so with a little luck, it may not be one of Wyoming’s most dangerous cities by next year.

Wheatland, WY

Source: Wikipedia User Rolf Blauert (Dk4hb at en.wikipedia) | GFDL

Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 3,445
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 174 (11th most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 2,322 (Sixth most dangerous)
Murders: 0
More on Wheatland: Data | Crime

Welcome to Wheatland, a town of 3,445 located about an hour north up I-25 from Cheyenne. Wheatland jumped up 1 spots on this list from last year — the most significant change of any place on this list.

Wheatland had the second highest burglary rate in Wyoming over 2022, so it’s certainly not the sort of place you can leave your doors unlocked. We just hope the Laramie Peak Museum has enough security to stop a heist of frontier paraphernalia.

On the bright side, Wheatland is the least violent place on this list.

Powell, WY

Source: Wikipedia User Montanabw | CC BY-SA 4.0

Overall SnackAbility

7
/10

Population: 6,484
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 323 (Fourth most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 1,233 (15th most dangerous)
Murders: 0
More on Powell: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living

We’re taking our first trip to northwestern Wyoming to reach the state’s seventh most dangerous city, Powell. Powell had a mixed bag of crime numbers this year — violent crime went up by a chunk, while property crime fell by a bit.

We wonder if the frontier life on display at Homesteader Museum was more or less dangerous than current-day Powell.

It’s hard to imagine it was any more dangerous back then, considering residents had a 1 in 308 shot of being the victim of a violent attack over 2022. Overall, Powell had the fourth highest violent crime rate in Wyoming, including the tenth highest rate of rape cases.

Rawlins, WY

Source: Wikipedia User Richard Bauer | CC BY 2.0

Overall SnackAbility

7
/10

Population: 8,434
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 213 (Seventh most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 1,339 (12th most dangerous)
Murders: 0
More on Rawlins: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living

The county seat of Carbon County in south-central Wyoming, Rawlins comes in as the state’s eighth most dangerous city. While you can take a tour and even rent a cell in Rawlins’s Wyoming Frontier Prison, some residents are angling for a full-time spot in a jail cell.

The violent crime rate in Rawlins is the seventh highest in Wyoming, but the majority of those cases are “just” aggravated assaults.

Burglary is also quite prevalent in Rawlins, with about 2 cases a month on average — that’s a lot for a city of just 8,434.

9. Evansville

Evansville, WY

Source: Public domain

Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 3,046
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 98 (18th most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 2,921 (Third most dangerous)
Murders: 0
More on Evansville: Crime

A part of the Casper Metro Area, Evansville topped our list of the worst places to live in Wyoming, and crime played a big part in our decision.

Good news, bad news situation in Evansville. Violent crime fell by an impressive amount from the previous reporting year, but property crime went up by a similar amount during the same time frame.

We’re sure Evansville residents are pleased they don’t have to worry as much about violent attacks on their outings to Edness K. Wilkins State Park. But we’re equally sure they’d like local authorities to also address the third highest burglary rate in Wyoming.

Torrington, WY

Source: Wikipedia User Chris Light (talk) | CC BY-SA 3.0

Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 6,145
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 146 (14th most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 2,245 (Seventh most dangerous)
Murders: 0
More on Torrington: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living

Located in southeast Wyoming, Torrington grew along a railroad route. The founder named the town after his hometown in Connecticut, located about 1,800 miles to the east.

Things can get a little rambunctious in town. Despite its relatively small population of 6,145, Torrington faces the number 14 highest rate of violent crime in the state.

But don’t let that completely color your opinion of the town. It also features plenty of amenities, especially given its rural surroundings. This includes Eastern Wyoming College.

Crime By City In Wyoming

Rank City Population Total Crimes Per 100K Violent Crimes Per 100K Property Crimes Per 100K Murders
1 Riverton 10,623 4,019 611 3,407 1
2 Cheyenne 64,941 3,914 278 3,635 0
3 Gillette 32,320 2,292 324 1,967 0
4 Casper 58,244 3,061 212 2,848 2
5 Evanston 11,886 1,960 395 1,564 0
6 Wheatland 3,445 2,496 174 2,322 0
7 Powell 6,484 1,557 323 1,233 0
8 Rawlins 8,434 1,553 213 1,339 0
9 Evansville 3,046 3,020 98 2,921 0
10 Torrington 6,145 2,392 146 2,245 0
11 Mills 4,239 1,863 165 1,698 0
12 Sheridan 19,373 1,873 139 1,734 0
13 Rock Springs 22,914 1,427 170 1,256 0
14 Cody 10,281 1,089 213 875 0
15 Douglas 6,336 1,104 189 915 0
16 Lander 7,441 2,499 26 2,472 2
17 Green River 11,435 988 192 795 2
18 Laramie 32,009 1,358 106 1,252 1
19 Buffalo 4,567 1,029 87 941 0
20 Glenrock 2,396 876 125 751 0
21 Thermopolis 2,691 1,114 37 1,077 0
22 Newcastle 3,176 976 62 913 0
23 Jackson 10,932 841 73 768 0
24 Worland 4,817 602 62 539 0
25 Kemmerer 2,760 434 36 398 0
26 Afton 2,055 145 0 145 0

Methodology: How we determined the most dangerous cities in Wyoming for 2024?

Every year the FBI release two crime datasets on cities in Wyoming. First a preliminary dataset limited to the biggest cities in Wyoming, followed by a more detailed release at the end of the year.

For our analysis, we focused on the 2022 data, specifically the 2022 Crime In The United States Report for Wyoming.

So what criteria did we use? Have a look:

  • Violent Crimes Per Capita
  • Property Crimes Per Capita

In order to make the analysis as apples to apples as possible, we only considered Wyoming cities over 2,000 in population. That left us with 26 cities in Wyoming.

We then ranked each city from 1 to 26 for the two criteria with a #1 ranking being the most dangerous for the particular criteria.

Next, we averaged the two rankings into one “Dangerous Index”.

Finally, we ranked every city on the “Dangerous Index” with the lowest index being the most dangerous in Wyoming — Riverton. Any ties went to the smaller city.

This article is an opinion based on facts and is meant as infotainment. It is our tenth time ranking the most dangerous places to live in Wyoming and is updated for 2024.

Most Dangerous Places To Live In Wyoming FAQs

No, Wyoming is not a dangerous state as it ranks as the #10 safest state in the United States based on our analysis of the latest FBI Crime Data. The violent crime rate in Wyoming ranks 43rd most dangerous in the United States — 36.66% better than US average violent crime rate. The property crime rate in the Equality State ranks 35th most dangerous in the United States — 17.59% better than US average property crime rate. The latest reporting year from the FBI was 2022.

Yes, Cheyenne is a dangerous city. Cheyenne ranks as the #236 most dangerous out of 1433 major cities over 30,000 people in the United States based on our analysis of the latest FBI Crime Data. Keep in mind that are always safe and dangerous parts of any city, so even though Cheyenne might be considered dangerous you still need to be aware of where you are.

Compared to other big cities, the violent crime rate in Cheyenne ranks 74highest in America — 25.49% better than US average violent crime rate. The property crime rate in the ranks 175th highest in the United States — 68.06% worse than US average property crime rate. Note the latest reporting year from the FBI was 2022 and that no city in America is ‘dangerous’. Despite the uptick in murders, it’s nothing like you’d see in Tijuana or Caracas where the murder rate is 2x any American city.

Graphing The Most Dangerous And Safest Places In Wyoming

Most Dangerous Cities In Wyoming Graph

Click To Enlarge

Summary: Locking It All Up In Wyoming

So what is the most dangerous city in Wyoming? After analyzing 26 cities in Wyoming, Riverton takes the top spot as the most dangerous city in Wyoming based on the most recently reported FBI data — 2022.

The latest FBI crime data shows that Riverton ranks as the most dangerous city in Wyoming for 2024.

The most dangerous cities in Wyoming are .

We want to point out again that there’s still safes places in Riverton and that this isn’t a comment on the people that live there. So please don’t beat us up.

What is the most dangerous place in Wyoming? The most dangerous place in Wyoming is Riverton.

Take a look at the report below before making any life-changing decisions about where to live in Wyoming.

Learn more about the safest places in Wyoming.

If you’re looking for something more national, check out the most dangerous cities in America or the most dangerous states in America.

Here are the safest cities in Wyoming:

  1. Green River (Pop. 11,435)
  2. Laramie (Pop. 32,009)
  3. Buffalo (Pop. 4,567)
  4. Glenrock (Pop. 2,396)
  5. Thermopolis (Pop. 2,691)
  6. Newcastle (Pop. 3,176)
  7. Jackson (Pop. 10,932)
  8. Worland (Pop. 4,817)
  9. Kemmerer (Pop. 2,760)
  10. Afton (Pop. 2,055)

For more Wyoming reading, check out:

References

About Chris Kolmar

Chris Kolmar has been in the real estate business for almost ten years now. He originally worked for Movoto Real Estate as the director of marketing before founding HomeSnacks.

He believes the key to finding the right place to live comes down to looking at the data, reading about things to do, and, most importantly, checking it out yourself before you move.

If you've been looking for a place to live in the past several years, you've probably stumbled upon his writing already.

You can find out more about him on LinkedIn or his website.