City Comparison
Powell vs Rock Springs
Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.
VS
Powell scores higher overall
Performance
Score Breakdown
Powell
Rock Springs
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Rock Springs is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run about
54% lower than in Powell.
Housing costs are a major driver: Powell's average rent is
12% higher than Rock Springs's.
| Metric | Powell | Rock Springs | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $950 | $846 | +12% |
| Groceries | $380 | $0 | 0% |
| Utilities | $170 | $0 | 0% |
| Transport | $110 | $0 | 0% |
| Healthcare | $220 | $0 | 0% |
| Monthly Total | $1,830 | $846 | +116% |
| Cost Index | 92 | 95 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Powell offers similar average salaries.
The minimum comfortable salary in Powell is estimated at
$45,000 vs $33,840 in Rock Springs.
| Metric | Powell | Rock Springs |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $52,000 | $0 |
| Salary Needed | $45,000 | $33,840 |
| Household Income | $58,500 | $69,168 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Powell runs warmer on average — a 46.9°F difference year-round.
For sunshine, Powell comes out ahead with 294 more sunny days per year,
which can meaningfully impact mood and outdoor lifestyle.
Winter severity differs too — Powell sees 33.2 more inches of snowfall annually.
| Metric | Powell | Rock Springs |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 46.90°F | °F |
| Summer High | 82.60°F | °F |
| Winter Low | 12.10°F | °F |
| Rainfall | 14.00 in | in |
| Snowfall | 33.20 in | in |
| Sunny Days | 294 | |
| Humidity | 50.00% | 83.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Powell has the shorter commute — saving residents roughly
4,500 minutes (75 hours) per year compared to Rock Springs.
Powell scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living.
For walkability, Powell leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | Powell | Rock Springs |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 14 min | 23 min |
| Transit Score | 35.0/100 | — |
| Walkability | 58.0/100 | 26.0/100 |
| Traffic Index | 22.00 | |
| Car Dependency | High | High |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Rock Springs is the larger city
— approximately 0.3x the population of Powell.
From a growth perspective, Powell is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
On the employment side, Powell has a lower unemployment rate, reflecting a tighter and more competitive job market.
| Metric | Powell | Rock Springs |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 6,489 | 23,051 |
| Pop. Growth | 0.80% | — |
| Median Age | 36.5 | 35.9 |
| Unemployment | 3.50% | 4.20% |
| GDP | — | — |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
Powell
Advantages
Violent and property crime rates are significantly lower than the U.S. national average per FBI crime data.
Median home prices and overall cost of living remain below the national average per US Census Bureau metrics.
Proximity to Yellowstone National Forest provides world-class outdoor recreation including hunting, fishing, and hiking.
Strong local educational framework anchored by Northwest College and dedicated public school districts.
Welcoming small-town community atmosphere with active local events and low traffic congestion.
Drawbacks
Limited local public transit options necessitate high car dependency for daily needs.
Geographic isolation means specialized shopping, major airports, and advanced medical centers require driving to larger cities.
Winter weather brings harsh freezing temperatures and occasional heavy snowfall that can impact travel.
Limited high-paying corporate job sectors within city limits compared to larger metropolitan economies.
Housing inventory can occasionally be constrained for prospective buyers and renters.
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.
Powell
#90Wyoming, USA
68.0 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$950
Avg Salary
$52,000
Cost Index
92
Commute
14 min
Transit Score
35.0/100
Walkability
58.0/100
Sunny Days
294/yr
Avg Temp
46.90°F
Pop. Growth
0.80%
Unemployment
3.50%
Livability
78
Business
67
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 Powell and Rock Springs.
Open Cost Calculator