City Comparison
Wheatland vs Gillette
Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.
VS
Gillette scores higher overall
Performance
Score Breakdown
Wheatland
Gillette
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
| Metric | Wheatland | Gillette | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $850 | $0 | 0% |
| Groceries | $380 | $0 | 0% |
| Utilities | $170 | $0 | 0% |
| Transport | $110 | $0 | 0% |
| Healthcare | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Monthly Total | $1,510 | $0 | 0% |
| Cost Index | 88 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Gillette offers 20% lower average salaries.
| Metric | Wheatland | Gillette |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $52,000 | $65,000 |
| Salary Needed | $45,000 | $0 |
| Household Income | $54,000 | $81,316 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Both cities share a similar average temperature, within 3.5°F of each other.
For sunshine, Wheatland comes out ahead with 18 more sunny days per year,
which can meaningfully impact mood and outdoor lifestyle.
Winter severity differs too — Gillette sees 17.7 more inches of snowfall annually.
| Metric | Wheatland | Gillette |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 50.80°F | 47.30°F |
| Summer High | 84.30°F | 79.60°F |
| Winter Low | 20.50°F | 15.60°F |
| Rainfall | 12.10 in | 17.70 in |
| Snowfall | 20.90 in | 38.60 in |
| Sunny Days | 297 | 279 |
| Humidity | 50.00% | 65.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Wheatland has the shorter commute — saving residents roughly
2,000 minutes (33 hours) per year compared to Gillette.
Wheatland scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living.
For walkability, Wheatland leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | Wheatland | Gillette |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 15 min | 19 min |
| Transit Score | 20.0/100 | — |
| Walkability | 45.0/100 | 22.0/100 |
| Traffic Index | 15.00 | |
| Car Dependency | High | High |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Gillette is the larger city
— approximately 0.1x the population of Wheatland.
From a growth perspective, Gillette is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
On the employment side, Gillette has a lower unemployment rate, reflecting a tighter and more competitive job market.
| Metric | Wheatland | Gillette |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 3,575 | 33,431 |
| Pop. Growth | — | 1.00% |
| Median Age | 42.5 | 34.0 |
| Unemployment | 3.80% | 2.50% |
| GDP | — | — |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
Wheatland
Advantages
Median home prices and overall cost of living are significantly lower than the US national average.
Extremely low crime rates provide a safe, secure environment for families and retirees.
Proximity to outdoor recreation, including Glendo State Park and excellent fishing and hunting grounds.
Strong community spirit and tight-knit rural culture with active local engagement.
Short local commute times with virtually no heavy traffic congestion.
Drawbacks
Limited local job diversification outside of agriculture, government, and healthcare.
Harsh winter weather conditions with potential for heavy snowfall and freezing temperatures.
Limited public transportation infrastructure, making personal vehicle ownership mandatory.
Fewer options for dining, arts, entertainment, and shopping within town limits.
Specialized healthcare and advanced medical treatments require travel to larger cities.
Gillette
Advantages
Affordable housing compared to national averages, with a median home value of $264,500 in 2024.
Strong job market driven by the energy sector, with major employers like Peabody Energy and Arch Coal.
Abundant outdoor recreational opportunities in the surrounding natural landscapes.
Close-knit community with a friendly atmosphere and strong community spirit.
Lower cost of living and lower violent crime rate compared to national averages.
Drawbacks
Economy heavily reliant on the volatile energy sector, subject to boom-and-bust cycles.
Limited public transportation options, with a car-dependent culture.
Harsh winter weather conditions.
Fewer cultural and entertainment amenities compared to larger cities.
Crime rate is higher than 92% of Wyoming's cities and towns.
Explore
Dive Deeper
Key figures side by side — see which city wins each category at a glance.
Wheatland
#178Wyoming, USA
64.3 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$850
Avg Salary
$52,000
Cost Index
88
Commute
15 min
Transit Score
20.0/100
Walkability
45.0/100
Sunny Days
297/yr
Avg Temp
50.80°F
Pop. Growth
%
Unemployment
3.80%
Livability
75
Business
60
Gillette
#14Wyoming, USA
74.3 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$0
Avg Salary
$65,000
Cost Index
Commute
19 min
Transit Score
—
Walkability
22.0/100
Sunny Days
279/yr
Avg Temp
47.30°F
Pop. Growth
1.00%
Unemployment
2.50%
Livability
74
Business
68
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