Genuinely nice people overall but the area has som
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2/24/2024
problems that affect quality of life.
There are a lot of hidden costs to living in Riverton as well as much of Wyoming. This is especially true when it comes to auto insurance. The cost of auto insurance is much higher that average. Although some will state that it is lower, that is not the truth.
Three things affect the cost of insurance. One is that the small population of the state does not create a large pool of funding thus everyone has to pay more. Two is the weather. Some hailstorms caused car and home damage across the state, and this raised everyone's premiums. Three. There are a number of uninsured drivers. It is a sad fact of life that there are a large number of uninsured drivers and so everyone with insurance picks up the slack.
This is a touchy topic, but it is the elephant in the room. The Wind River Indian Reservation. The 2.2-million-acre reservation is rated as one of the worst in the nation. There are significant problems that bleed over into other communities like Riverton. Property crime, alcohol, and drug addiction problems. Homelessness from the tribe impacts the quality of life for some communities surrounding the place.
Water is a huge issue. The geology of Wyoming impacts the cost of drilling a well. A friend told me many wells will cost you up to $40,000 for a 200-foot artesian well. Also, that is no guarantee that the well will provide quality water. There is a lot of water that is alkali and laden with minerals. Wells costing far north of 100 K are not unheard of in Wyoming.
Land and real estate. Much of the land seems to be overvalued and that is a result of the combination of the "Left Coast" exodus and the work at home covid situation we had a brief time ago. I see land here that is a gravel pit at premium prices.
Hunting and Fishing. To be eligible to obtain a resident license you must be a full time resident for one year. That is determined by your driver's license. Much of the game is in a lottery system where you may have to wait years for a tag, even if you are a resident. There are over the counter tags and what is called a general license, but the success rates tend to be lower. Added to that, you will have to travel a great distance to find a place to hunt. Here in Riverton, I will have to drive seventy-five miles NW to the Dubois area in the fall.
Medical. The local hospital is not well rated. Also, your medical insurance may not cover you. The local clinics do not fully inform you if your insurance will cover a visit. SURPRISE!!!! If you are involved in a serious accident, people are life flighted to Billings Montana or Casper Wyoming. So quality medical is a distance away.
In my move from Massachusetts I have met wonderful people and have seen some wonderful things but in all honesty, there is more negative than positive in this region.
John | Riverton, WY