City Comparison
Rock Springs vs Grants Pass
Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.
VS
Rock Springs scores higher overall
Performance
Score Breakdown
Rock Springs
Grants Pass
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Rock Springs is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run about
67% lower than in Grants Pass.
Housing costs are a major driver: Rock Springs's average rent is
42% lower than Grants Pass's.
| Metric | Rock Springs | Grants Pass | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $846 | $1,450 | -42% |
| Groceries | $0 | $450 | -100% |
| Utilities | $0 | $400 | -100% |
| Transport | $0 | $120 | -100% |
| Healthcare | $0 | $150 | -100% |
| Monthly Total | $846 | $2,570 | -67% |
| Cost Index | 95 | 112 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Grants Pass offers 100% lower average salaries.
The minimum comfortable salary in Rock Springs is estimated at
$33,840 vs $58,000 in Grants Pass.
| Metric | Rock Springs | Grants Pass |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $0 | $64,331 |
| Salary Needed | $33,840 | $58,000 |
| Household Income | $69,168 | $59,646 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Both cities share a similar average temperature, within 0°F of each other.
| Metric | Rock Springs | Grants Pass |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | °F | °F |
| Summer High | °F | °F |
| Winter Low | °F | °F |
| Rainfall | in | in |
| Snowfall | in | in |
| Sunny Days | ||
| Humidity | 83.00% | 74.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Grants Pass has the shorter commute — saving residents roughly
2,500 minutes (42 hours) per year compared to Rock Springs.
Grants Pass scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living.
For walkability, Grants Pass leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | Rock Springs | Grants Pass |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 23 min | 18 min |
| Transit Score | — | 27.0/100 |
| Walkability | 26.0/100 | 40.0/100 |
| Traffic Index | ||
| Car Dependency | High | High |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Grants Pass is the larger city
— approximately 0.6x the population of Rock Springs.
From a growth perspective, Grants Pass is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
On the employment side, Rock Springs has a lower unemployment rate, reflecting a tighter and more competitive job market.
| Metric | Rock Springs | Grants Pass |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 23,051 | 40,051 |
| Pop. Growth | — | 0.90% |
| Median Age | 35.9 | 40.8 |
| Unemployment | 4.20% | 5.60% |
| GDP | — | — |
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.
Grants Pass
Advantages
Access to world-class outdoor recreation on the Rogue River, including rafting and fishing.
More sunny days and a warmer, drier climate compared to much of western Oregon.
Housing is comparatively more affordable than larger West Coast cities and some other Oregon metros.
A growing arts and food scene in a walkable, historic downtown.
Friendly community atmosphere appealing to families and retirees.
Drawbacks
Overall crime rate is significantly higher than the national average, particularly due to property crime.
Limited high-wage job opportunities compared to larger economic centers.
Air quality can be impacted by wildfire smoke during certain seasons.
Presence of a significant homeless population in the downtown core.
High car dependency due to minimal public transportation options.
Explore
Dive Deeper
Key figures side by side — see which city wins each category at a glance.
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
Grants Pass
#584Oregon, USA
45.2 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,450
Avg Salary
$64,331
Cost Index
112
Commute
18 min
Transit Score
27.0/100
Walkability
40.0/100
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
0.90%
Unemployment
5.60%
Livability
70
Business
60
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