Affordable Places for Seniors to Live in Wyoming
Wyoming is a state that offers many benefits for seniors who are looking for a place to retire. The state has a low tax burden, a low cost of living, a high quality of health care, and plenty of natural beauty and outdoor recreation opportunities. Wyoming also has a rich history and culture, with many museums, festivals, and attractions that celebrate the Western heritage and lifestyle.
However, not all places in Wyoming are equally suitable for seniors who want to enjoy their golden years without breaking the bank. Some towns and cities may have higher housing costs, fewer amenities, or less favorable weather conditions than others. Therefore, it is important to do some research and compare different options before deciding where to settle down.
Now, we will introduce some of the best places to retire in Wyoming that are affordable, comfortable, and convenient for seniors. We will use the following criteria to evaluate each place:
- Tax burden: The percentage of income that goes to taxes, including income tax, sales tax, and property tax.
- Senior percentage: The percentage of the population that is 65 years or older.
- Medical centers: The number of medical centers per 1,000 residents.
- Retirement communities: The number of retirement communities per 1,000 residents.
- Recreation centers: The number of recreation centers per 1,000 residents.
- Cost of living: The overall cost of living index, where 100 is the national average.
We will also provide some information about the climate, culture, and attractions of each place. Here are our top picks for affordable places for seniors to live in Wyoming:
Cody
Cody is our best place to retire in Wyoming and the 74th ranked place to retire in the country. The town of roughly 9,800 people is located close to Yellowstone National Park in the Northwest corner of the state. Its place atop this list is most likely due to its low tax burden of 12.8% and its senior percentage of 19.5%, higher than any other city on the list. It also boasts 3.9 medical centers per 1,000 residents, good for third-highest. Finally, it has 3.39 recreation centers per 1,000 residents, the second-highest mark on this list.
Cody has a semi-arid climate with four distinct seasons. The summers are warm and dry, while the winters are cold and snowy. The average annual temperature is 45°F, and the average annual precipitation is 10 inches.
Cody is known as the “Rodeo Capital of the World” and hosts several rodeo events throughout the year. It is also home to the Buffalo Bill Center of the West, a complex of five museums that showcase the life and legacy of William F. Cody, the famous frontiersman and showman who founded the town. Other attractions include the Cody Firearms Museum, the Old Trail Town, and the Shoshone National Forest.
The cost of living in Cody is slightly below the national average at 98.8. The median home value is $252,400 and the median rent is $846.
Lander
The second-highest ranked town in the state is Lander. A small town in central Wyoming, Lander had roughly 7,600 people at the last census. While its tax burden of 13.7% is in the middle of the road among the communities listed here, Lander has the most retirement communities per 1,000 residents of any town listed here. It also has 5.41 medical centers per 1,000 residents, which is the second-highest figure we’ll see on the list.
Lander has a continental climate with hot summers and cold winters. The average annual temperature is 46°F, and the average annual precipitation is 12 inches.
Lander is a popular destination for outdoor enthusiasts, as it is surrounded by several natural wonders and recreational areas. Some of these include Sinks Canyon State Park, where a river disappears into a cavern and reappears half a mile downstream; Wind River Range, where hikers can explore over 2,000 lakes and glaciers; and Fremont County Pioneer Museum, where visitors can learn about the history and culture of the region.
The cost of living in Lander is slightly above the national average at 103.6. The median home value is $222,900 and the median rent is $789.
Powell
Powell is one of the smallest towns we’ll see on this list, with only 6,400 residents as of the most recent census. Its 12.8% tax burden is the lowest of any town in the top 10, tied with No. 1 Cody. Powell is consistently high in the rest of the categories we measured as well. The town is 17.3% seniors, and it has an impressive number of recreation centers for its size, with 0.94 per 1,000 residents.
Powell has a semi-arid climate with hot summers and cold winters. The average annual temperature is 46°F, and the average annual precipitation is 8 inches.
Powell is a charming town that offers a variety of activities and attractions for seniors. Some of these include the Homesteader Museum, where visitors can see how early settlers lived and worked; the Powell Golf Club, where golfers can enjoy a scenic and challenging course; and the Heart Mountain Interpretive Center, where visitors can learn about the history and legacy of the Japanese American internment camp that was located nearby during World War II.
The cost of living in Powell is below the national average at 94.9. The median home value is $191,400 and the median rent is $718.
Wyoming is a state that offers many benefits for seniors who are looking for a place to retire. The state has a low tax burden, a low cost of living, a high quality of health care, and plenty of natural beauty and outdoor recreation opportunities. Wyoming also has a rich history and culture, with many museums, festivals, and attractions that celebrate the Western heritage and lifestyle.