Performance
Score Breakdown
Rock Springs
Cheyenne
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Rock Springs is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run approximately
70% lower compared to Cheyenne.
Housing costs are a major driver: Rock Springs's average rent is
38% lower than Cheyenne's.
| Metric | Rock Springs | Cheyenne | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $846 | $1,367 | -38% |
| Groceries | $0 | $705 | -100% |
| Utilities | $0 | $352 | -100% |
| Transport | $0 | $250 | -100% |
| Healthcare | $0 | $141 | -100% |
| Monthly Total | $846 | $2,815 | -70% |
| Cost Index | 95 | 100 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Cheyenne offers 100% lower average salaries.
The minimum comfortable salary in Rock Springs is estimated at
$33,840 vs $75,000 in Cheyenne.
| Metric | Rock Springs | Cheyenne |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $0 | $54,402 |
| Salary Needed | $33,840 | $75,000 |
| Household Income | $69,168 | $78,839 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Both cities share a similar average temperature, within 0°F of each other.
| Metric | Rock Springs | Cheyenne |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | °F | °F |
| Summer High | °F | °F |
| Winter Low | °F | °F |
| Rainfall | in | in |
| Snowfall | in | in |
| Sunny Days | ||
| Humidity | 83.00% | % |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Cheyenne has the shorter commute — saving residents roughly
3,500 minutes (58 hours) per year compared to Rock Springs.
Cheyenne scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living.
For walkability, Cheyenne leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | Rock Springs | Cheyenne |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 23 min | 16 min |
| Transit Score | 0.0/10 | 30.0/10 |
| Walkability | 26.0/10 | 40.0/10 |
| Traffic Index | ||
| Car Dependency | High | High |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Cheyenne is the larger city
— approximately 0.3x the population of Rock Springs.
From a growth perspective, Cheyenne is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
On the employment side, Cheyenne has a lower unemployment rate, reflecting a tighter and more competitive job market.
| Metric | Rock Springs | Cheyenne |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 23,051 | 66,580 |
| Pop. Growth | % | 0.11% |
| Median Age | 35.9 | 38.9 |
| Unemployment | 4.20% | 3.70% |
| GDP | $0.0B | $0.0B |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
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.
Cheyenne
Advantages
Cheyenne's unemployment rate of 3.7% (Q4 2024) is lower than the national average, indicating a healthy job market.
The average commute time in Cheyenne is only 16 minutes, significantly shorter than many other U.S. cities.
Overall crime rates in Cheyenne decreased by 8% in 2025 compared to 2024, and continued to decline by 12.4% in 2026.
The cost of living in Cheyenne is comparable to the national average, with utilities being 5.2% lower.
Cheyenne offers a strong sense of community and rich Western heritage, highlighted by events like Cheyenne Frontier Days.
Drawbacks
Cheyenne's crime rate is higher than 99% of other communities within Wyoming and higher than average for cities of similar population size.
Public transportation options are limited, leading to a high reliance on personal vehicles.
Groceries in Cheyenne are approximately 1.7% pricier than the national average.
While overall healthcare costs are lower, a doctor's visit without insurance can be 16.2% higher than the national average.
The city experiences cold and long winters with significant snowfall.
Explore
Dive Deeper
Key figures side by side — see which city wins each category at a glance.
Rock Springs
#117Wyoming, USA
65.0 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$846
Avg Salary
$0
Cost Index
95
Commute
23 min
Transit Score
0.0/10
Walkability
26.0/10
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
%
Unemployment
4.20%
Livability
65
Business
60
Cheyenne
#92Wyoming, USA
68.0 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,367
Avg Salary
$54,402
Cost Index
100
Commute
16 min
Transit Score
30.0/10
Walkability
40.0/10
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
0.11%
Unemployment
3.70%
Livability
72
Business
65
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