9 Safest Towns In Wyoming For Senior Living
For seniors drawn to open skies, Old West heritage, and close-knit communities, Wyoming offers small towns where safety is part of everyday life. Many of these places report low violent-crime rates. According to U.S. News & World Report, it ranks #6 for having the lowest violent crime rate in the nation and #9 for the lowest property crime rate. In Laramie, retirees benefit from the Eppson Center’s meals, transportation, and activities, as well as access to Ivinson Memorial Hospital. In Sundance, low crime, a small population, Crook County Hospital, and an active senior center create a reassuring setting for older adults seeking independence without isolation. These are nine of Wyoming's safest towns for senior living.
Laramie
Originally a railroad town with a “Hell-on-wheels” reputation, today’s Laramie is a mixture of heritage and vibrancy. It’s home to the University of Wyoming and about 8,150 students. But it’s equally appealing to retirees. The Eppson Center for seniors has a 50-year history of offering a variety of no-cost to low-cost activities ranging from line dancing to walking excursions. They also offer classes, daily meals, transportation services, and more. The downtown is flat and easy to navigate, and Historic Laramie will keep visitors busy with one-of-a-kind shops and restaurants. It’s also a recipient of the 2026 Accredited Main Street America distinction for towns dedicated to revitalization and preservation. Laramie has additionally formally committed to the World Health Organization to become even more Age-Friendly. The crime rate is 14.5% below the state average and 19.5% below the national average, with violent crime at 12.82 per 1,000 residents.
The population is 32,957, and residents 65 and older make up 11%. So the town is big enough for uptown conveniences but small enough for a rural vibe. Healthcare is also excellent. In addition to walk-in clinics, Ivinson Memorial Hospital is a 99-bed full-service facility with 24-hour emergency care. It’s also a Top 100 Rural Community Hospital. Single-family homes have a median price of $386,500, which is well below the national average, and there are plenty of lower-cost rental options as well. With so much going for it, it’s little wonder why locals call the town “Laradise.”
Sheridan
The Bighorn Mountains are almost always visible and inviting on Sheridan's Main Street. It's a classic cowboy town that’s managed to stay the same for decades while still accommodating modern life. The population is 19,813, and 20% of the residents are 65 and older. The crime rate is 9% lower than the state average,14% below the national average, and the chance of being involved in a violent crime is a low 1 in 734.
Sheridan Memorial Hospital is an 88-bed full-service facility with 24-hour emergency care. For nine years in a row, it’s been distinguished as a Top 100 Rural and Community Hospital. Sheridan Memorial also has a walk-in clinic, and there is Sugarland Walk-In Clinic for plenty of convenient care options.
Downtown’s Main Street is very accessible, and throughout the year, activities happen on Main that range from live entertainment to parades to the farmer’s market. Downtown also features 46 buildings on the National Register of Historic Places. Enjoy a drink at The Mint, the town’s main watering hole since 1907. Or, get a trim and peruse the barber memorabilia at the White Star Barber Shop that’s been cutting hair and swapping stories since 1904.
While buying a single-family home is higher than the national average at about $433,000, apartment rentals are an impressive 49% below the national average. Factor in attractions like the Bighorn Mountains, the week-long Sheridan WYO Rodeo, and the Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument in nearby Montana, and this might be the ideal place.
Cody
Founded by American scout, bison hunter, and showman Buffalo Bill Cody, this small town bearing his name is the gateway to the Eastern entrance of Yellowstone National Park, the nation’s first national park. The town’s history is abundantly rich in Western history, heritage, and the imprint of Buffalo Bill is everywhere. Enjoy a drink at the Irma Hotel, named after Bill’s daughter, or explore the Buffalo Bill Center of the West, a complex of five separate museums, including one for natural history, another for the indigenous people of the Plains, an art museum, a firearms museum, and, of course, one for Buffalo Bill himself.
Cody’s population is a comfortable 10,931, and 20.3% are 65 or older. The crime rate is low, being 43% safer than other US cities. The chances of being involved in a violent crime are a scant 1 in 611.
Cody Regional Health is a 25-bed full-service hospital with 24/7 emergency care, and it also has a walk-in clinic. There are additionally two other walk-in clinics in town. The Cody Senior Center offers transportation up to 10 miles outside of town, as well as Meals On Wheels, exercises, games, Bingo on Wednesday & Thursday, and more. Single-family homes have a median price of $378,500, and apartment rentals are a tempting 57% lower than the national average.
Cody calls itself the “Rodeo Capital of the World,” and it lives up to that moniker. Every night in summer, locals and tourists alike love the Cody Nite Rodeo, featuring bronco busting, roping, barrel racing, and more. It’s the longest-running nighttime rodeo in the world. There’s also the world-famous Cody Stampede Rodeo held annually. Then, there is Yellowstone for a backyard. Go wildlife spotting in the park, take a hike to a waterfall, or enjoy a lazy float down the Shoshone River.
Buffalo
Like Cody, tourism is a big part of Buffalo’s economy. That’s because it sits at the crossroads of Interstates 25 and 90, and along scenic U.S. Highway 16 that connects Mount Rushmore to Yellowstone National Park. It’s situated in the rolling foothills of the Bighorn Mountains and is the seat of Johnson County. Like all of the towns on this list, Buffalo is steeped in Western tradition. It’s said to be the inspiration for the Longmire books and the successful TV series. And just like Sheriff Longmire would want it, violent crime is extremely low. The town is ranked 64% safer than other U.S. cities.
Besides the Buffalo Senior Center, which offers a variety of activities and services and is open Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., there are plenty of things to do and sites to enjoy. Have a drink or meal at the Historic Occidental Hotel and Saloon. Known to locals as “the Ox,” it’s been a part of Buffalo since 1880. Take a drive through nearby Crazy Woman Canyon and admire its high rocky cliffs. Or, spend a leisurely day by or on the waters of Lake DeSmet. For those who want a place to hang their spurs, single-family homes are affordable with a median price of $272,300. Johnson County Medical Center (JCMC) is a 25-bed full-service hospital with 24-hour emergency care, and they offer programs and outpatient care tailored to seniors. The town also has a walk-in clinic, the Family Medical Center, which is a part of JCMC.
Buffalo’s population is 4,769, with a median age of 48. Nearly 35% of the town’s population is 60 and older, so retirees have lots of opportunities to meet kindred spirits.
Sundance
Besides being a temporary home to one of Butch Cassidy’s Wild Bunch, Sundance is ideally situated between some of the nation’s most loved attractions; Devils Tower National Monument is less than 30 miles away, and Custer State Park in South Dakota is about 90 minutes away. Sundance, itself, is picturesquely framed by the Bearlodge Mountains, right off I-90 in northeastern Wyoming. It’s a small town of about 912 residents and the kind of community where neighbors look out for one another. Crook County Hospital, conveniently right in town, is open 24/7. The Sundance Senior Center offers noon meals, home-delivered meals, and numerous social activities. The cost of living is 15% below the national average, and the single-family median home price is $260,900.
The town’s median age is a sturdy 53.8 years, and 49% of the population is 60 or older. Crime is extremely low in Sundance, coming in 51% below the national average. Residents enjoy shopping for groceries, produce, gifts, and flowers at Decker’s Market, part of a family grocery tradition dating to 1911. They also love Sundance Square, the town’s centerpiece, featuring a splash pad for kids, picnic tables, summer movies, and more. The Crook County Museum and Art Gallery in the Old Stoney building, 120 N. 4th St., is free to visitors Monday through Saturday from 8-4 pm and 10-4 pm on Saturdays. The nearby Vore Buffalo Jump is one of the most significant Native American archaeological finds in the U.S.
Saratoga
Located in south-central Wyoming's Carbon County and situated within the scenic North Platte River Valley, Saratoga is a town that’s all about soaking up the good life, literally. The town is well-known for its hot springs, which have been enjoyed by indigenous people, tourists, and locals for centuries.
With a population of only 1,740, faces can easily become familiar here. The median age is 42.6, and those 60 and older make up 29% of the population. Crime is very low in this small town. It’s 47% below the national average and a whopping 87% lower than most major U.S. cities. The chances of being involved in a violent crime are 1 in 441.
The North Platte River runs right through the middle of town and is famous for its outstanding trout fishing. And those hot springs, better known as the Hobo Hot Springs, are open to everyone 24 hours a day. The hot springs pool averages around 106° F at its coolest and 119° F at its warmest. So, whether it’s a warm June night or a snowy December day, sit back and enjoy the waters.
The North Platte Valley Medical Center is open 24/7. The Saratoga Senior Center offers card games, meals, quilting, clay arts, and more. Downtown, there’s the Studio T Art Gallery, Lollypops Coffee & Ice Cream, and the historic Hotel Wolf that’s been in town since 1893. Housing is also affordable, with a single-family home having a median price of $124,450, the lowest on this list.
Evanston
Few towns can brag about a state park being at its epicenter, but Evanston is one of them. Bear River State Park is a 324-acre day-use park in Evanston with small herds of bison and elk, plus several miles of paved and packed-gravel trails. The town has 11,691 residents, and it’s the seat of Uinta County. 16.7% of the population is 65 and older. The town was originally a Union Pacific Railroad tent town, but today it’s known for mining and energy, healthcare and social assistance, retail, and tourism.
The Uinta Senior Citizens Center offers services, activities, and adult day care. Evanston Regional Hospital is a 42-bed full-service facility with 24/7 emergency care and award-winning nursing. The crime rate is 13.5% below the national average, and the chances of violent crime are 15.85 per 1,000 residents.
The median single-family home value is $280,900, and the downtown area is easy to navigate. Get a manicure and shop for clothing at the Beauty Bar Spa and Boutique, or find everything from cowboy hats to towels to sporting goods at Murdoch’s Ranch & Home Supply. The old Union Pacific Railroad Roundhouse is worth exploring, and for a larger city getaway, Salt Lake City is less than 90 minutes away.
Afton
Afton is home to the world’s largest arch made of elk antlers that stretches over the four lanes of U.S. Highway 89. It’s also the gateway to the Bridger-Teton National Forest and the Salt River Range. The crime rate is extremely low, 51% below the national average and 95% lower than most major U.S. cities. The average price for a single-family home is $358,000, and apartment rentals, like most towns on this list, are well below the national average. Specifically, rentals are 48% lower. The town’s population is 2,908, and 18% of the residents are 60 or older.
Star Valley Health is a 22-bed full-service hospital offering 24/7 emergency care and a walk-in clinic. The Salt River Senior Center is the hub of senior activity and offers numerous activities, meals, crafts, tour outings, and more. For a small town, there’s plenty to do. There’s endless hiking and fishing in the Bridger-Teton National Forest. Enjoy golfing at Valli Vu Golf Course. Or, explore Intermittent Spring, five miles east of town. It’s described as the largest rhythmic spring in the world; from late August to May, the flow cycles on and off, running for about 18 minutes and then stopping for about 15-20 minutes.
Pinedale
Pinedale has affectionately been called Wyoming’s Quirkiest Little Town, but it’s also one of the state’s safest towns. Violent crime is practically nonexistent and 87% below the national average. It’s about 75 miles south of Jackson and is the primary hunting and camping outfitting town for those exploring the range. While that may sound rugged, the friendly town is actually very comfortable.
In terms of healthcare, Sublette County Hospital is a 10-bed critical access hospital in Pinedale with emergency services. For recreation, retirees love Rendezvous Pointe, the senior center in town, and its “Think Young, Have Fun” motto. They provide meals, trips to Yellowstone National Park, yoga, games, crafting, and more.
The population is 2,048, and 28% of the residents are 60 and older. The single-family median home price is $350,500. That’s 3% above the national average, but rentals are 22% below. Overall, the cost of living is 6% below the national average.
It's easy to get around town, and there is lots to do. Visit the Museum of the Mountain Man, enjoy a cowboy cookout at the Pitchfork Fondue, or watch the cattle on the Green River Drift, a cattle trail that has been continuously used since the 1890s.
Retire In The Great Outdoors
For seniors seeking the safest towns in Wyoming to call home, these communities offer more than scenic beauty and Western charm. Low crime rates, accessible healthcare, active senior centers, and close-knit neighborhoods make daily life feel secure and manageable. In Sundance, for example, the small population, Crook County Hospital, and active senior center create a reassuring place to age comfortably while staying connected.
