City Comparison
Riverton vs Gillette
Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.
VS
Gillette scores higher overall
Performance
Score Breakdown
Riverton
Gillette
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
| Metric | Riverton | Gillette | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $1,150 | $0 | 0% |
| Groceries | $400 | $0 | 0% |
| Utilities | $170 | $0 | 0% |
| Transport | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Healthcare | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Monthly Total | $1,720 | $0 | 0% |
| Cost Index | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Gillette offers 44% lower average salaries.
| Metric | Riverton | Gillette |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $36,500 | $65,000 |
| Salary Needed | $45,000 | $0 |
| Household Income | $55,208 | $81,316 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Both cities share a similar average temperature, within 0.90000000000001°F of each other.
For sunshine, Riverton comes out ahead with 35 more sunny days per year,
which can meaningfully impact mood and outdoor lifestyle.
Winter severity differs too — Gillette sees 14.1 more inches of snowfall annually.
| Metric | Riverton | Gillette |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 48.20°F | 47.30°F |
| Summer High | 85.90°F | 79.60°F |
| Winter Low | 15.20°F | 15.60°F |
| Rainfall | 9.80 in | 17.70 in |
| Snowfall | 24.50 in | 38.60 in |
| Sunny Days | 314 | 279 |
| Humidity | % | 65.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Riverton has the shorter commute — saving residents roughly
2,000 minutes (33 hours) per year compared to Gillette.
For walkability, Gillette leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | Riverton | Gillette |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 15 min | 19 min |
| Transit Score | — | — |
| Walkability | — | 22.0/100 |
| Traffic Index | ||
| Car Dependency | High | High |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Gillette is the larger city
— approximately 0.3x the population of Riverton.
From a growth perspective, Gillette is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
On the employment side, Gillette has a lower unemployment rate, reflecting a tighter and more competitive job market.
| Metric | Riverton | Gillette |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 10,978 | 33,431 |
| Pop. Growth | 0.62% | 1.00% |
| Median Age | 38.4 | 34.0 |
| Unemployment | 4.20% | 2.50% |
| GDP | — | — |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
Riverton
Advantages
The average rent in Riverton is significantly lower than the national average, making it an affordable place to live.
The median home sale price of $240,000 in August 2026 is considerably below the national average, offering value for homebuyers.
Riverton boasts 314 sunny days annually, providing ample opportunity for outdoor activities.
The average commute time is a short 14.5 minutes, reducing daily travel stress for residents.
New healthcare facilities, such as River Peak Health, are being established, indicating an improvement in healthcare access and services.
Drawbacks
Specific data for unemployment rate, transit score, and walkability score for Riverton is not readily available, indicating potential gaps in public services or data collection.
The economy, while stable, is concentrated in a few sectors (Healthcare, Education, Retail), which might limit job diversity and growth opportunities outside these areas.
The city is highly car-dependent, with limited public transportation options, which could be a drawback for those without personal vehicles.
Detailed, recent crime rate data (2024 or later) to accurately assess safety is not publicly available.
While the cost of living is low, the average individual salary is also modest compared to the national GDP per capita, requiring careful financial planning.
Gillette
Advantages
Affordable housing compared to national averages, with a median home value of $264,500 in 2024.
Strong job market driven by the energy sector, with major employers like Peabody Energy and Arch Coal.
Abundant outdoor recreational opportunities in the surrounding natural landscapes.
Close-knit community with a friendly atmosphere and strong community spirit.
Lower cost of living and lower violent crime rate compared to national averages.
Drawbacks
Economy heavily reliant on the volatile energy sector, subject to boom-and-bust cycles.
Limited public transportation options, with a car-dependent culture.
Harsh winter weather conditions.
Fewer cultural and entertainment amenities compared to larger cities.
Crime rate is higher than 92% of Wyoming's cities and towns.
Explore
Dive Deeper
Key figures side by side — see which city wins each category at a glance.
Riverton
#178Wyoming, USA
64.3 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,150
Avg Salary
$36,500
Cost Index
Commute
15 min
Transit Score
—
Walkability
—
Sunny Days
314/yr
Avg Temp
48.20°F
Pop. Growth
0.62%
Unemployment
4.20%
Livability
70
Business
55
Gillette
#14Wyoming, USA
74.3 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$0
Avg Salary
$65,000
Cost Index
Commute
19 min
Transit Score
—
Walkability
22.0/100
Sunny Days
279/yr
Avg Temp
47.30°F
Pop. Growth
1.00%
Unemployment
2.50%
Livability
74
Business
68
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