What are the schools like in Ranchester, WY?

Ranchester is served primarily by Sheridan County School District #1. The district operates 3 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, and 3 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 13.0:1.

What is the median household income in Ranchester?

The median household income in Ranchester, WY is $63,083 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 1.6%.

What is the weather like in Ranchester, WY?

Ranchester has an average high temperature of 35.9°F in January and 85.2°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 16.9 inches and annual snowfall averages 68.3 inches.

Ranchester, WY Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Ranchester, WY affordable or expensive?

Ranchester's cost of living index is 95, where 100 represents the national average. This means Ranchester is 5% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $274,800 and the median rent is $723 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Ranchester, WY?

Ranchester has a violent crime rate of 111.5 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 767.6 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Ranchester, WY a Good Place to Live?

Ranchester is a small town of 967 in Wyoming, with a median household income of $63,083 and a 1.6% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 95 (US average = 100), which is 5% below the national average.

Strengths: Ranchester stands out for an affordable cost of living, solid school ratings (B+).

Trade-offs: No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Ranchester is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Ranchester city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 95.0

Ranchester's overall cost of living index is 95.0, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Ranchester costs roughly 5% less than the average American city.

Metric	Ranchester, WY	National Avg
Median Home Value	$274,800	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$723	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	82.6%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$63,083	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Ranchester's violent crime rate is 111.5 per 100,000 residents — 71% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

111.5 /100k

Property Crime

767.6 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Ranchester is served primarily by Sheridan County School District #1. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.0:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Ranchester, WY	National Avg
School District	Sheridan County School District #1	—
Elementary Schools	3	—
Middle Schools	2	—
High Schools	3	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	13.0:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	30.8%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	96.3%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Ranchester sees average highs of 35.9°F in January and 85.2°F in July, with 16.9 inches of annual precipitation and 68.3 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Ranchester, WY
Average High — January	35.9°F
Average High — July	85.2°F
Annual Precipitation	16.9"
Annual Snowfall	68.3"

Demographics

Metric	Ranchester, WY	National Avg
Population	967	—
Median Age	34.2	38.9
Unemployment Rate	1.6%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	26.3 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	96.2%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.0%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	0.0%	18.9%
Asian	0.0%	6.3%
Under 18	34.1%	22.2%
65 and over	9.9%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Dayton, WY 5 mi Parkman, WY 8 mi Sheridan, WY 13 mi Wyola, MT 18 mi Powder Horn, WY 18 mi

ZIP Codes in Ranchester

Ranchester, WY is covered by 1 ZIP code:

82839

Ranchester vs Other Cities

Ranchester, WY vs Dayton, WY Ranchester, WY vs Parkman, WY Ranchester, WY vs Sheridan, WY Ranchester, WY vs Wyola, MT Ranchester, WY vs Powder Horn, WY

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Ranchester, WY affordable or expensive?

Ranchester's cost of living index is 95, where 100 is the national average. That makes Ranchester roughly 5% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $274,800 and median rent is $723/month.

What is the crime rate in Ranchester, WY?

Ranchester's violent crime rate is 111.5 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 767.6 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Ranchester?

Public schools in Ranchester are operated by Sheridan County School District #1. The district has 3 elementary, 2 middle, and 3 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.0:1. 30.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Ranchester, WY a good place to live?

Ranchester, WY has a population of 967, a median household income of $63,083, and an unemployment rate of 1.6%. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Ranchester?

Ranchester averages 35.9°F in January and 85.2°F in July. Annual rainfall is 16.9 inches with about 68.3 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Ranchester?

Ranchester, WY is covered by 1 ZIP code: 82839.

What is the population of Ranchester?

The population of Ranchester, Wyoming is 967 with a median age of 34.2. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Ranchester?

Key numbers for living in Ranchester: cost of living index 95 (100 = US average), median home $274,800, median household income $63,083, crime index 32 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Ranchester side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.