Madison Mews
Madison, Connecticut
Cheyenne, Wyoming
What It Is Like to Retire in Cheyenne
Cheyenne is the capital and largest city of the state of Wyoming, (65,132 in the 2020 census) and is an interesting place to retire. The city was an early western railhead and stock town and became very important when the major east/west railroad came through town. The railroad made use of the naturally tall, straight native lodgepole pine trees to manufacture ties for their tracks. The city has a lower than an average cost of living. Part of Cheyenne's attraction is that there is no state income tax, making it a tax-friendly place to retire (Wyoming has significant revenues from energy produced in the state). Laramie County Community College is located in Cheyenne, but the only 4-year universities nearby are 45 miles away in the City of Laramie, and 45 miles to the south, is the University of Colorado, in Fort Collins. Photo of Wyoming State Capital building is the courtesy of Wikipedia and Bradlyons, photo of the Union Pacific Railroad Depot and the Atlas Theatre, both listed on the National Register of Historic places, are courtesy of Wikipedia and Smallbones, Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.
Where to Retire in Cheyenne and Home Prices
Retirees can live in town or in developments on the outskirts. Or if more adventurous, they can live on a 5-10 acre ranchettes outside of the city limits.The median home value was $361,081 in mid-2023, according to Zillow. Places with acreage will be much more.
What Is Special about Cheyenne
One of US News & World Reports's 10 most tax-friendly towns in America (2008), Frontier Days and its huge outdoor rodeo, Cheyenne has a fascinating railroad history with a display of some of the biggest steam locomotives ever built - the Union Pacific Big Boy locomotives, which could typically carry 100 railroad cars over the Rockies at 50 mph. Interesting places to visit include the downtown historical district, The Botanical Gardens, the town of Centennial in the Medicine Bow Mountains, Signature and Register Rocks where the early pioneers came through and etched their names in the limestone cliffs.
What Is Not Special about Cheyenne
When you live in Wyoming it can be long drive from just about every amenity and service, the weather can be very harsh, and the wind blows almost incessantly.
Who Will Like Retirement in Cheyenne
Retirees who like the outdoors, and want to live in a manageable-sized town with the thrill of living in the west, may like it here. And anyone looking for relatively affordable horse property.
Local Economy Is Driven by
Construction, the BNSF railroad, the FE Warren Air Base, the Dish satellite uplink facility south of town, the WalMart and Lowes distribution centers, and the city, county, and state government's presence here drive the economy.
Climate and Physical Environment
Cheyenne is in southeastern Wyoming, just 12 miles north of the Colorado state line on the Front Range. The average January temperature is in the mid 20's and the average July temperature is in the high 90's. The climate is semi-arid with considerable snowfall in late winter/early spring. High winds are a problem most days of the year in Cheyenne, even wrenching car doors off their hinges if you're not careful. Cheyenne regularly experiences sudden, violent summer thunderstorms that may produce flooding and large hail plus the town sits on the flat prairies at the eastern and northern edges of tornado country and may occasionally see a small funnel cloud or two., Winter blizzards can become dangerous with strong winds and wind chill temperatures sometimes dropping below -40 degrees.
Restaurants & Cultural Scene
Frontier Days, held at the end of July, is the big annual attraction and sponsors the largest outdoor rodeo in the world. Laramie County Community College provides some cultural opportunities and college-level coursework. The Union Pacific Depot and the Cheyenne Botanic Gardens are prominent local attractions. The food scene is dominated by fast food, national chains like Olive Garden and Old Chicago, and a few substandard mom and pop restaurants. Denver, over a hundred miles to the south, has the closest thing resembling fine dining in the area. Also, there are no professional or semi-pro sports teams in the area. Most residents are ardent fans of the local college football team, the University of Wyoming, Laramie, cowboys. They may also support professional Colorado teams such as the Broncos, the Rockies, the Nuggets, and the Avalanche.
Crime
The crime rate is below average and is primarily focused on drug-related property crimes and serious problems with substance abuse and domestic violence.
Medical facilities
Cheyenne Regional Medical Center is the sole major medical facility serving the non-military residents of Cheyenne along with a VA Medical Center for the veteran population.
Transportation
Because of its small poulation and remote location, Cheyenne has meager transportation resources. Located at the intersection of I-25 and I-80, it does have an Amtrak station and local airport, and is only 50 miles from the Loveland/Fort Collins airport. The only major airport in the area, however, is Denver International Airport, 150 miles to the south.
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