City Comparison
Sheridan vs Rock Springs
Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.
VS
Sheridan scores higher overall
Performance
Score Breakdown
Sheridan
Rock Springs
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Rock Springs is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run about
61% lower than in Sheridan.
Housing costs are a major driver: Sheridan's average rent is
48% higher than Rock Springs's.
| Metric | Sheridan | Rock Springs | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $1,250 | $846 | +48% |
| Groceries | $420 | $0 | 0% |
| Utilities | $175 | $0 | 0% |
| Transport | $110 | $0 | 0% |
| Healthcare | $230 | $0 | 0% |
| Monthly Total | $2,185 | $846 | +158% |
| Cost Index | 98 | 95 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Sheridan offers similar average salaries.
The minimum comfortable salary in Sheridan is estimated at
$50,000 vs $33,840 in Rock Springs.
| Metric | Sheridan | Rock Springs |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $58,000 | $0 |
| Salary Needed | $50,000 | $33,840 |
| Household Income | $64,500 | $69,168 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Sheridan runs warmer on average — a 46.2°F difference year-round.
For sunshine, Sheridan comes out ahead with 275 more sunny days per year,
which can meaningfully impact mood and outdoor lifestyle.
Winter severity differs too — Sheridan sees 52.4 more inches of snowfall annually.
| Metric | Sheridan | Rock Springs |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 46.20°F | °F |
| Summer High | 80.20°F | °F |
| Winter Low | 10.80°F | °F |
| Rainfall | 22.20 in | in |
| Snowfall | 52.40 in | in |
| Sunny Days | 275 | |
| Humidity | 55.00% | 83.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Sheridan has the shorter commute — saving residents roughly
4,000 minutes (67 hours) per year compared to Rock Springs.
Sheridan scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living.
For walkability, Sheridan leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | Sheridan | Rock Springs |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 15 min | 23 min |
| Transit Score | 35.0/100 | — |
| Walkability | 58.0/100 | 26.0/100 |
| Traffic Index | 30.00 | |
| Car Dependency | High | High |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Rock Springs is the larger city
— approximately 0.8x the population of Sheridan.
From a growth perspective, Sheridan is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
On the employment side, Sheridan has a lower unemployment rate, reflecting a tighter and more competitive job market.
| Metric | Sheridan | Rock Springs |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 18,700 | 23,051 |
| Pop. Growth | 1.10% | — |
| Median Age | 41.0 | 35.9 |
| Unemployment | 3.20% | 4.20% |
| GDP | — | — |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
Sheridan
Advantages
Wyoming has no state income tax, allowing residents to retain a larger share of their earnings.
Stunning proximity to the Bighorn Mountains offers world-class hiking, skiing, and fishing.
Crime rates in Sheridan are significantly lower than the national average.
A thriving historic downtown features local galleries, breweries, and the historic WYO Theater.
Friendly, community-oriented atmosphere with strong local civic engagement.
Drawbacks
Winters are long, cold, and bring significant snowfall averaging over 50 inches annually.
Housing inventory can be limited, putting upward pressure on local home prices and rents.
Limited public transportation options require residents to rely heavily on personal vehicles.
Geographic isolation means major metropolitan shopping and entertainment are hours away.
Job market diversity is narrower compared to larger urban centers.
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.
Explore
Dive Deeper
Key figures side by side — see which city wins each category at a glance.
Sheridan
#108Wyoming, USA
67.0 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,250
Avg Salary
$58,000
Cost Index
98
Commute
15 min
Transit Score
35.0/100
Walkability
58.0/100
Sunny Days
275/yr
Avg Temp
46.20°F
Pop. Growth
1.10%
Unemployment
3.20%
Livability
80
Business
70
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
Calculate Your Cost Impact
Estimate the salary you'd need when moving between Sheridan and Rock Springs.
Open Cost Calculator