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: 10,913 628 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.72 chance of being a victim: 1 in 159 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,037

Riverton, WY holds the distinction of being the #1 most dangerous city in Wyoming with 628 violent crimes per 100,000 people. The area continues to struggle with elevated assault (443), robbery (55), rape (120) and homicide (9) rates, as the violent crime rate comes in at 229% 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.

Green River Population: 12,025 342 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 0.94 chance of being a victim: 1 in 292 Total Crimes / 100k: 1,219

The second most dangerous city is Green River. With a population of 12,025 and a violent crime rate that is 79% higher than the Wyoming average, the city has seen better days. The higher than average crime rates in Green River are not new, as violent crime has been a serious issue for many years and topped 342 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 292 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime.

Evanston Population: 11,727 320 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 0.88 chance of being a victim: 1 in 313 Total Crimes / 100k: 1,707

Home to 11,727 residents, Evanston, WY ranks #3 on the list of most dangerous cities in Wyoming. Unfortunately for residents of Evanston, crime is widespread, with more than 320 violent crimes per 100,000 people reported last year. When the numbers are analyzed, this translates to a staggering 0.88 crimes per day and a violent crime rate that is 67% higher than the Wyoming violent crime rate.

Cheyenne Population: 64,099 317 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 0.87 chance of being a victim: 1 in 315 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,021

With a violent crime rate that is 66% higher than the Wyoming average, it's not hard to see why Cheyenne made the list. The city reported crime (per 100,000 residents) in the following categories: robbery (44), assault (188), rape (81) and homicide (5). 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 Cheyenne more vulnerable to high crime.

Casper Population: 58,287 253 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 0.69 chance of being a victim: 1 in 396 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,843

The ongoing battle with crime in Casper, 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 253 and a 1 in 396 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime (per 100,000 people), Casper has a violent crime rate that is 32% 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 Casper.

Gillette Population: 32,513 238 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 0.65 chance of being a victim: 1 in 420 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,108

Gillette, WY comes in at number 6 on our list, with a violent crime rate of 238 per 100,000 people, which is 25% higher than the Wyoming average. Gillette has a population of 32,513, which translates to 0.65 crimes per day and 1 in 420 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 Gillette which are much safer than others.

Cody Population: 9,810 204 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 0.56 chance of being a victim: 1 in 491 Total Crimes / 100k: 1,299

A 1 in 491 chance of becoming a victim of crime and 0.56 violent crimes per day - those are some fairly good reasons why Cody makes the list at #7. According to the most recent annual crime report, there were 204 violent crimes per 100,000 people, which translates to a violent crime rate that is 7% higher than the Wyoming average. The number of violent crimes takes into account the following categories: assault (78), robbery (0), rape (116) and homicide (10).

Torrington Population: 6,597 195 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 0.53 chance of being a victim: 1 in 512 Total Crimes / 100k: 1,757

Torrington, WY is another one of the most dangerous cities in Wyoming and tops the list at #8. The city has a population of 6,597 and a violent crime rate of 195 per 100,000 people. Of those crimes, there were 98 counts of assault, 0 counts of robbery, 98 counts of rape and 0 counts of homicide. All told, the Torrington violent crime rate is 2% higher than the Wyoming average.

Rock Springs Population: 23,238 176 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 0.48 chance of being a victim: 1 in 570 Total Crimes / 100k: 1,711

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 176 per 100,000 people. If we break that down, the city sees 0.48 violent crimes per day and residents have a 1 in 570 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime.

Douglas Population: 6,369 170 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 0.47 chance of being a victim: 1 in 588 Total Crimes / 100k: 1,593

Rounding out our list at #10 is Douglas, WY. With a population of 6,369 and a violent crime rate of 170 per 100,000 people (11% lower than the Wyoming average), some parts of Douglas are incredible unsafe. The violent crime rate consists of 77 counts of assault, 0 counts of robbery, 93 counts of rape and 0 counts of homicide. Residents can expect to have a 1 in 588 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	628	4,037
2	Green River	12,025	342	1,219
3	Evanston	11,727	320	1,707
4	Cheyenne	64,099	317	4,021
5	Casper	58,287	253	2,843
6	Gillette	32,513	238	2,108
7	Cody	9,810	204	1,299
8	Torrington	6,597	195	1,757
9	Rock Springs	23,238	176	1,711
10	Douglas	6,369	170	1,593
11	Laramie	32,515	158	1,592
12	Powell	6,238	107	1,448
13	Sheridan	17,938	98	1,227
14	Jackson	10,585	94	675
15	Worland	5,112	83	540

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.