City Comparison
Gillette vs Rock Springs
Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.
VS
Gillette scores higher overall
Performance
Score Breakdown
Gillette
Rock Springs
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
| Metric | Gillette | Rock Springs | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $0 | $846 | -100% |
| Groceries | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Utilities | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Transport | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Healthcare | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Monthly Total | $0 | $846 | -100% |
| Cost Index | 95 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Gillette offers similar average salaries.
| Metric | Gillette | Rock Springs |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $65,000 | $0 |
| Salary Needed | $0 | $33,840 |
| Household Income | $81,316 | $69,168 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Gillette runs warmer on average — a 47.3°F difference year-round.
For sunshine, Gillette comes out ahead with 279 more sunny days per year,
which can meaningfully impact mood and outdoor lifestyle.
Winter severity differs too — Gillette sees 38.6 more inches of snowfall annually.
| Metric | Gillette | Rock Springs |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 47.30°F | °F |
| Summer High | 79.60°F | °F |
| Winter Low | 15.60°F | °F |
| Rainfall | 17.70 in | in |
| Snowfall | 38.60 in | in |
| Sunny Days | 279 | |
| Humidity | 65.00% | 83.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Gillette has the shorter commute — saving residents roughly
2,000 minutes (33 hours) per year compared to Rock Springs.
For walkability, Rock Springs leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | Gillette | Rock Springs |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 19 min | 23 min |
| Transit Score | — | — |
| Walkability | 22.0/100 | 26.0/100 |
| Traffic Index | ||
| Car Dependency | High | High |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Gillette is the larger city
— approximately 1.5x the population of Rock Springs.
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 | Gillette | Rock Springs |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 33,431 | 23,051 |
| Pop. Growth | 1.00% | — |
| Median Age | 34.0 | 35.9 |
| Unemployment | 2.50% | 4.20% |
| GDP | — | — |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
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.
Rock Springs
Advantages
Affordable housing market with a median home value around $256,200.
Lower average rent for apartments compared to the national average, with 1-bedroom apartments averaging $846/month.
Shorter average commute times of 22.5 minutes compared to the national average.
Access to outdoor recreation, including Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area.
A strong sense of community rooted in a diverse historical immigrant population.
Drawbacks
High car dependency with low walkability and transit scores (Walk Score of 26).
Conflicting reports on crime rates, with some indicating rates higher than the national average.
Limited amenities and potentially lower quality of life scores in certain categories.
Population is projected to decline slightly annually.
No reliable data found for average individual salary or unemployment rate for the city.
Explore
Dive Deeper
Key figures side by side — see which city wins each category at a glance.
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
Rock Springs
#318Wyoming, USA
60.7 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$846
Avg Salary
$0
Cost Index
95
Commute
23 min
Transit Score
—
Walkability
26.0/100
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
%
Unemployment
4.20%
Livability
65
Business
60
Calculate Your Cost Impact
Estimate the salary you'd need when moving between Gillette and Rock Springs.
Open Cost Calculator