Top 10 most dangerous cities in Wyoming

Wyoming, known for its rugged landscapes and rich cultural heritage, offers a unique living experience. From the bustling city life of Cheyenne to the scenic beauty of Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming provides a diverse array of attractions. The state's rich cultural heritage is evident in its music, festivals, and historic sites. However, despite its many positives, Wyoming faces safety challenges in certain urban areas. The most dangerous cities in Wyoming are identified by their violent crime rates per 100,000 people, highlighting regions where vigilance is necessary. The contrast between Wyoming's natural serenity and urban crime issues underscores the complexities of life in this diverse state.

Efforts to improve safety in Wyoming involve a combination of enhanced law enforcement measures and community engagement programs aimed at preventing violence and crime. These initiatives are crucial in addressing the safety concerns that affect some of the most dangerous cities in Wyoming. While these areas present significant challenges, they also highlight the potential for community-driven solutions and positive change. Wyoming's commitment to fostering safer environments is evident in its proactive measures and the resilience of its residents. The state's blend of natural beauty, cultural richness, and economic opportunities continues to attract people, despite the complexities of urban safety concerns.

Riverton Population: 10,913 612 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.68 chance of being a victim: 1 in 163 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,020

Riverton, WY holds the distinction of being the #1 most dangerous city in Wyoming with 612 violent crimes per 100,000 people. The area continues to struggle with elevated assault (461), robbery (38), rape (104) and homicide (9) rates, as the violent crime rate comes in at 203% higher than the Wyoming average. Contributing to these numbers could be the higher than average rates of poverty, unemployment, and gang activity. Ongoing efforts from local law enforcement and the community have been created to help reduce the crime rates going forward.

Evanston Population: 11,727 395 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.08 chance of being a victim: 1 in 253 Total Crimes / 100k: 1,960

The second most dangerous city is Evanston. With a population of 11,727 and a violent crime rate that is 96% higher than the Wyoming average, the city has seen better days. The higher than average crime rates in Evanston are not new, as violent crime has been a serious issue for many years and topped 395 violent crimes per 100,000 people in the last calendar year. In some areas, the riks are greater than others, as residents have a 1 in 253 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime.

Gillette Population: 32,513 325 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 0.89 chance of being a victim: 1 in 308 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,293

Home to 32,513 residents, Gillette, WY ranks #3 on the list of most dangerous cities in Wyoming. Unfortunately for residents of Gillette, crime is widespread, with more than 325 violent crimes per 100,000 people reported last year. When the numbers are analyzed, this translates to a staggering 0.89 crimes per day and a violent crime rate that is 61% higher than the Wyoming violent crime rate.

Powell Population: 6,238 324 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 0.89 chance of being a victim: 1 in 309 Total Crimes / 100k: 1,558

With a violent crime rate that is 60% higher than the Wyoming average, it's not hard to see why Powell made the list. The city reported crime (per 100,000 residents) in the following categories: robbery (0), assault (262), rape (62) and homicide (0). In regions where employment opportunities are scarce or where many jobs offer insufficient wages, the risk of increased unemployment and homelessness rises, this could be just some of the triggers that make Powell more vulnerable to high crime.

Cheyenne Population: 64,099 279 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 0.76 chance of being a victim: 1 in 359 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,914

The ongoing battle with crime in Cheyenne, WY, is not a new issue - which is why there's no surprise that this city has made the list. With a violent crime rate of 279 and a 1 in 359 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime (per 100,000 people), Cheyenne has a violent crime rate that is 38% higher than the Wyoming average. Higher than average poverty and unemployment rates as well as a lack of available well-paying jobs, are most likely all contributing to the high rate of violent crime in Cheyenne.

Cody Population: 9,810 214 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 0.59 chance of being a victim: 1 in 467 Total Crimes / 100k: 1,089

Cody, WY comes in at number 6 on our list, with a violent crime rate of 214 per 100,000 people, which is 6% higher than the Wyoming average. Cody has a population of 9,810, which translates to 0.59 crimes per day and 1 in 467 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime. As with most cities, a high violent crime rate does not mean that all areas are unsafe, as there are definitely some areas in Cody which are much safer than others.

Green River Population: 12,025 192 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 0.53 chance of being a victim: 1 in 520 Total Crimes / 100k: 988

A 1 in 520 chance of becoming a victim of crime and 0.53 violent crimes per day - those are some fairly good reasons why Green River makes the list at #7. According to the most recent annual crime report, there were 192 violent crimes per 100,000 people, which translates to a violent crime rate that is 5% lower than the Wyoming average. The number of violent crimes takes into account the following categories: assault (131), robbery (0), rape (44) and homicide (17).

Douglas Population: 6,369 189 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 0.52 chance of being a victim: 1 in 528 Total Crimes / 100k: 1,105

Douglas, WY is another one of the most dangerous cities in Wyoming and tops the list at #8. The city has a population of 6,369 and a violent crime rate of 189 per 100,000 people. Of those crimes, there were 189 counts of assault, 0 counts of robbery, 0 counts of rape and 0 counts of homicide. All told, the Douglas violent crime rate is 6% lower than the Wyoming average.

Rock Springs Population: 23,238 170 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 0.47 chance of being a victim: 1 in 588 Total Crimes / 100k: 1,427

Economic conditions, education, social environment, law enforcement and urbanization can all have an impact on crime rates. Feeling the effects of most of those issues, Rock Springs, WY comes in as the 9th most dangerous city in Wyoming with a violent crime rate of 170 per 100,000 people. If we break that down, the city sees 0.47 violent crimes per day and residents have a 1 in 588 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime.

Torrington Population: 6,597 146 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 0.40 chance of being a victim: 1 in 683 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,392

Rounding out our list at #10 is Torrington, WY. With a population of 6,597 and a violent crime rate of 146 per 100,000 people (27% lower than the Wyoming average), some parts of Torrington are incredible unsafe. The violent crime rate consists of 49 counts of assault, 0 counts of robbery, 98 counts of rape and 0 counts of homicide. Residents can expect to have a 1 in 683 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime.

Full list of the most dangerous cities in Wyoming

Rank	Location	Population	Violent Crimes /100k	Total Crimes /100k
1	Riverton	10,913	612	4,020
2	Evanston	11,727	395	1,960
3	Gillette	32,513	325	2,293
4	Powell	6,238	324	1,558
5	Cheyenne	64,099	279	3,914
6	Cody	9,810	214	1,089
7	Green River	12,025	192	988
8	Douglas	6,369	189	1,105
9	Rock Springs	23,238	170	1,427
10	Torrington	6,597	146	2,392
11	Sheridan	17,938	139	1,874
12	Laramie	32,515	106	1,359
13	Jackson	10,585	73	842
14	Worland	5,112	62	602

Methodology

The AreaVibes list of the most dangerous cities in Wyoming is derived from the FBI's uniform crime reporting program (UCR Program) from their most recent release. To compile this list, we used violent crime data (assualt, robbery, rape and murder) per 100,000 people and only included Wyoming cities with a population of 5,000 or more. Displaying violent crime rates based on a population of 100,000 allows for an equal comparison for each city.

Map of Violent Crime By State

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Explore our interactive map to discover the most dangerous cities in each state across the USA. This map highlights the states with the highest crime rates, providing insights into the factors contributing to these statistics. From urban centers facing economic hardships to regions grappling with social challenges, the map offers a visual representation of crime hotspots. Click on each state to learn more about its most dangerous cities, the types of crimes most prevalent, and the underlying causes behind these issues.