COMMENT BY
Ann from Gillette, WY
COMMENT ABOUT PLACE
Gillette, WY
COMMENT
Lots of money, but little class.
I have lived in Gillette for the past 7 years with my family. It's a very unattractive town, as far as the geography. The nearest mountain is about 60 miles away. The city is trying to make big improvements and there are areas that are newer and nicer. For being in the middle of nowhere it has an amazing recreation center. Healthcare is less than desirable, although they spent a fortune on a recent upgrade to the hospital. Housing is outrageous and of poor quality. It's not unusual to pay 300,000+ for a home with linoleum and no upgrades. Real shopping is a two hour drive away. Overall, the people are friendly, but a little rough around the edges. Generally, people here work shift work at the mines, which results in children raising themselves. This creates children who are often in trouble and exhibit a lack of respect for authority or the "traditional family." There is a lot of money in the community and that works well for the education system. All schools have the best and most current technology options. There is a huge push for sports here, so if your child is into the arts or anything else that would not qualify as a sport, they may have difficulty fitting in or being accepted. It's a bit backwards in that the kids who are high achievers and excel are at the bottom of the popularity pole, while the delinquents are glorified. Meth and other drugs are a huge problem in this town, but that seems to be a concern in most places anymore. My spouse and I are both professionals and would recommend looking elsewhere if you're goal is to raise healthy, productive members of society. Yes, there is lots of money here and the standard of living is high, but sometimes money is not everything.