What it's like to live in Rock Springs
Rock Springs is a small city in Wyoming with rent below the national average, home prices that remain within reach, crime rates well below the national average, and commutes that run shorter than most cities. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Rock Springs deals with college degree attainment below the national average, cold, harsh winters, and fewer dining and entertainment options than a bigger city.
The good
- Rent below the national average
- Affordable home prices
- Low crime rates
- Short commutes
- Low student-teacher ratio
The not so good
- Low college degree attainment
- Cold, harsh winters
- Smaller place — fewer dining and entertainment options
How Rock Springs compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Rock Springs
Based on Rock Springs's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$1,856
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $37,120 a year
- 41% of Rock Springs renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$51,240
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $25,620
- Homes cost 3.7× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▼ 34% below US
$928/mo median rent
Rent here is genuinely low, with median rent around $928 a month. Factoring in local incomes, the value gets even better. Money stretches further here than in most of the country. Home prices are reasonable, with a median around $256,200. Not a steal, but not intimidating either.
Median home value $256,200 · 41% of renters cost-burdened
Job market
3.8% county unemployment
Unemployment in Sweetwater County is 3.8%, close to the national average of 4.3%. That's the county-wide rate; BLS doesn't measure a place this size on its own.
Sweetwater County (county-wide)
Safety▼ 56% below US
145 violent crimes per 100k
Safety is genuinely one of the selling points here. Both violent and property crime run well below the national average, the kind of numbers that fade into the background after a week of living somewhere.
Property crime 871/100k · Rock Springs Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▼ 13% below US
23 min average commute
Commutes are reasonable, averaging 22.5 minutes. Nothing heroic, and there's still time left over for a life after work. 9 in 10 workers drive to work.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are warm, with highs around 83°F, and winters are cold and harsh, with lows dropping to 13°F. It's a dry climate with limited rainfall.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Healthcare
1 hospital
There's one Medicare-certified hospital inside city limits. Hospitals in neighboring towns aren't counted here.
Medicare-certified hospitals
Education & workforce▼ 39% below US
22% bachelor's degree or higher
College degree attainment runs below average at 22%. That tends to reflect a more trade and working-class economy, which can be great or limiting depending on the industry.
Schools
10 public schools inside the boundary
There are 10 public schools inside the boundary and 1 private school. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14:1, well below the national average of 16:1. Smaller class sizes are generally a positive sign for a district.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Oregon National Historic Trail (35 miles away). There are 5 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Rock Springs's strongest points are rent below the national average and home prices that remain within reach; the main tradeoffs are college degree attainment below the national average and cold, harsh winters. A year of median rent ($928/mo) equals 16% of the median household income here, less than the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit people watching their budget and anyone prioritizing low crime. It may be a harder fit for anyone who dislikes long, cold winters.
Other places near Rock Springs
All Wyoming guides →Moving to Green River →
14 mi away · pop. 11,581
Rent $921/mo · Income $84,747
Compare with Rock Springs →Moving to Evanston →
93 mi away · pop. 11,800
Rent $805/mo · Income $76,516
Compare with Rock Springs →Moving to Riverton →
108 mi away · pop. 10,856
Rent $921/mo · Income $55,208
Compare with Rock Springs →Moving to Jackson →
152 mi away · pop. 10,756
Rent $2,100/mo · Income $118,991
Compare with Rock Springs →Not sure Rock Springs is the one?
Put it side by side with another city.