The 10 Most Dangerous Cities In Wyoming

The 10 Most Dangerous Places To Live In Wyoming For 2024

Riverton jumped no change position on this list from last year to “earn” the #1 spot for most dangerous city in Wyoming. That’s because violent crime increased and property crime rose by a similar amount.

While Riverton wasn’t the most violent place in Wyoming in 2022, it did have the second highest rate of rape and third highest murder rate statewide. So get home before dark if you’re visiting the Castle Gardens Petroglyph Site, or you might end up the protagonist of a horror movie.

On top of all the violence in Riverton, residents also had a 1 in 29 chance of being the victim of a property crime over 2022. That’s the second highest property crime rate in all of Wyoming.

Wyoming’s capital and biggest city, Cheyenne, ranks as the state’s second most dangerous place to call home. Cheyenne’s overall crime rate is more than twice as high as the statewide average.

We hope nobody heists the Wyoming State Museum, because Cheyenne had the state’s highest property crime rate.

It’s not just a few broken windows and picked pockets going down in Cheyenne either. The city had the 16th highest murder rate in Wyoming, so nobody will blame you for keeping your guard up in Cheyenne.

Gillette, the third most dangerous place to live in Wyoming in 2024, is plagued by a high crime rate, contributing to its unsafe reputation. With a population of 32,320, this city in Campbell County has experienced 105 violent crimes, including 30 rapes, 3 robberies, and 72 aggravated assaults. Regarding property crime, Gillette has seen 636 incidents, including 41 burglaries. These alarming statistics indicate the presence of criminal activity that threatens the safety and well-being of its residents.

In the heart of Wyoming, Gillette is known as the “Energy Capital of the Nation” due to its involvement in the coal, oil, and coalbed methane gas industries. However, with the decline in coal use across the United States, the local economy has suffered, leading to potential economic challenges for the community. Despite these difficulties, there is hope for improvement through proactive measures and community engagement.

Known for its cowboy culture and oil-rich land, Wyoming’s second biggest city, Casper, also ranks as the fourth most dangerous.

Casper had the fourth highest murder rate in Wyoming over 2022, as well as the third highest rate of rape cases. Overall, violent crime in Casper ranks as the eighth highest statewide.

Property crime is a whole lot more prevalent, with about five property crimes going down each day in Casper. That includes the fifth highest burglary rate in Wyoming and 167 car thefts, so invest in good security systems if you’re moving to Casper.

Statistically, you have much more to fear from criminals than any wildlife at Bear River State Park if you’re living in Evanston.

While Evanston isn’t crazy violent overall, it did have the distinction of having the highest rate of rape cases in Wyoming. Not exactly something people want to be associated with their hometown.

Property crime in Evanston ranks as the 11th highest in Wyoming. Evanston wasn’t even on this list in years past, so with a little luck, it may not be one of Wyoming’s most dangerous cities by next year.

Welcome to Wheatland, a town of 3,445 located about an hour north up I-25 from Cheyenne. Wheatland jumped up 1 spots on this list from last year — the most significant change of any place on this list.

Wheatland had the second highest burglary rate in Wyoming over 2022, so it’s certainly not the sort of place you can leave your doors unlocked. We just hope the Laramie Peak Museum has enough security to stop a heist of frontier paraphernalia.

On the bright side, Wheatland is the least violent place on this list.

We’re taking our first trip to northwestern Wyoming to reach the state’s seventh most dangerous city, Powell. Powell had a mixed bag of crime numbers this year — violent crime went up by a chunk, while property crime fell by a bit.

We wonder if the frontier life on display at Homesteader Museum was more or less dangerous than current-day Powell.

It’s hard to imagine it was any more dangerous back then, considering residents had a 1 in 308 shot of being the victim of a violent attack over 2022. Overall, Powell had the fourth highest violent crime rate in Wyoming, including the tenth highest rate of rape cases.

The county seat of Carbon County in south-central Wyoming, Rawlins comes in as the state’s eighth most dangerous city. While you can take a tour and even rent a cell in Rawlins’s Wyoming Frontier Prison, some residents are angling for a full-time spot in a jail cell.

The violent crime rate in Rawlins is the seventh highest in Wyoming, but the majority of those cases are “just” aggravated assaults.

Burglary is also quite prevalent in Rawlins, with about 2 cases a month on average — that’s a lot for a city of just 8,434.

A part of the Casper Metro Area, Evansville topped our list of the worst places to live in Wyoming, and crime played a big part in our decision.

Good news, bad news situation in Evansville. Violent crime fell by an impressive amount from the previous reporting year, but property crime went up by a similar amount during the same time frame.

We’re sure Evansville residents are pleased they don’t have to worry as much about violent attacks on their outings to Edness K. Wilkins State Park. But we’re equally sure they’d like local authorities to also address the third highest burglary rate in Wyoming.

Located in southeast Wyoming, Torrington grew along a railroad route. The founder named the town after his hometown in Connecticut, located about 1,800 miles to the east.

Things can get a little rambunctious in town. Despite its relatively small population of 6,145, Torrington faces the number 14 highest rate of violent crime in the state.

But don’t let that completely color your opinion of the town. It also features plenty of amenities, especially given its rural surroundings. This includes Eastern Wyoming College.

Most Dangerous Places To Live In Wyoming FAQs