Considering Casper and Sheridan for our family (Boulder: apartments, for rent)

[sapphire904]

Hmmm....I think I'm seeing a pattern here. So Casper is windy and trashy. I actually got that impression (of the trashy part) from their visitor's brochure...
I'm sorry that happened to you Sunsprit. That's pretty frightening, especially when you're by yourself. I definitely don't want my son to grow up around those kind of social groups.

Does anyone think living in Sheridan would make one feel isolated? Or not since there are many little towns all around it?

I don't mind, but my husband is a little concerned with it being 2 hrs from the nearest city.

Thank you all for your input!

[sunsprit]

IMO, Sheridan is a big enough town that you'll find most of what you need readily available.

For more major shopping trips, medical access, more entertainment and hospitality options ... by Wyoming standards, Sheridan isn't too far away from a major opportunity.

Of course, feeling "isolated" is a very subjective impression. If you are acclimated to and reliant upon bigger city amenities, the distance to them from Sheridan can be a bit daunting. OTOH, if you are acclimated to living in rural areas, such as so much of Wyoming with "towns" of only a few hundred people ... Sheridan is a big activity center.

[branDcalf]

I'm close to Sheridan now.

New housing construction is very active. Sheridan is getting many new residents from other states. Friends with businesses downtown report they did pretty well last year in spite of covid-19 and restrictions. Seems like quite a bit of money coming in.

Some people are happy about that. Others are not.

I'm doing minimal remodeling on a house (starter/retirement sort of place) that I have in town and will sell it by the fall.

The newcomers want more bike paths and paved roads. Some locals are in favor, others aren't.

There are benefits to both Casper and Sheridan. If medical issues are a priority, Sheridan falls short. Great staff at their hospital, but they can't provide everything. Some specialists have appointments locally, but people, including kids, still have to travel to get what they need.

[DAXhound]

I bought in Gillette, after searching pretty thoroughly in Casper. I had heard about the litter problems in Casper, and the wind usually makes it worse.

[StealthRabbit]

Originally Posted by Exwyocowboy

...
Personally I always liked Ranchester and Dayton uphill from Sheridan

I 2nd^

Originally Posted by sapphire904

Hmmm....I think I'm seeing a pattern here. So Casper is windy and trashy. I actually got that impression (of the trashy part) from their visitor's brochure...
...
Does anyone think living in Sheridan would make one feel isolated? Or not since there are many little towns all around it?

I don't mind, but my husband is a little concerned with it being 2 hrs from the nearest city.

Thank you all for your input!

I consider Sheridan quite a 'Full Service community' + Jr college town. Granted... medical specialists and Costco require a road trip. But for a welcoming community with 4-H and other family centric activities I find it much better choice than Casper (which I am always happy to get away from). Engaged community and most people really love living there (not always true in Casper, many are there out of necessity and vow to leave ASAP.) Exceptions to each exist.

Sheridan / Dayton has a nice setting and good access to some great territory. (Bighorns)
I spent many yrs visiting there every weekend when my disabled father was in Sheridan VA Medical Center + my job took me to Casper and Sheridan every other day for ~ 10 yrs.

[nm9stheham]

Just some random 'FWIW' inputs, OP. As for churches, it looks like Sheridan exceeds Casper for churches per population, based on just a simple google count of the numbers (which may not be a comprehensive listing). So I would take that as a wash between the 2.

As far as trashy, well Casper is a trading center and light industrial town, focused around the resource extraction industries. Compared to eastern cities with that type of economy, Casper is clean! It is a matter of 'beauty in the eye of the beholder', so the only way to really judge it for your tastes is to see for yourself, OP. As noted, 'planning' in and around Casper seems to be taking hold, based on examining the local zoning codes, permitting, etc.

I'd expect to be dealing with a 'rowdier crowd' with 'rougher edges' in that type of mining and drilling economy of Casper, but whether you are generally OK or offended all depends on how you get fit in that group, and accept that. Your hunting and shooting bent may actually fit in well there. (And this is not commenting on Sunsprit's specific bad situation... I have been all over the eastern US for work, and live in a rural region, and see a lot of behavioral and cultural variety in different areas areas. Most of it is 'just what it is' IMHO; it is a BIG country with a lot of cultural variety.)

Shopping variety is larger in Casper. Local beauty goes to Sheridan IMHO.. but again, that is a personal view. Lower wind certainly goes to Sheridan, with the shadowing by the Big Horns. IDK on the nearness to trails or on the youth clubs. You might want to look at the nearby mountains in both areas to see the amount of wilderness areas.

Not sure about jobs, but I would expect Casper to be better at times, and then go bust when gas/oil/coal prices go down. Business opportunities depends on what you want to do so that is hard to help you with. If you wanted to service or sell heavy equipment, then go for Casper... but I doubt that is your interest LOL

[nowhereman427]

Originally Posted by branDcalf

I'm close to Sheridan now.

New housing construction is very active. Sheridan is getting many new residents from other states. Friends with businesses downtown report they did pretty well last year in spite of covid-19 and restrictions. Seems like quite a bit of money coming in.

Some people are happy about that. Others are not.

I'm doing minimal remodeling on a house (starter/retirement sort of place) that I have in town and will sell it by the fall.

The newcomers want more bike paths and paved roads. Some locals are in favor, others aren't.

There are benefits to both Casper and Sheridan. If medical issues are a priority, Sheridan falls short. Great staff at their hospital, but they can't provide everything. Some specialists have appointments locally, but people, including kids, still have to travel to get what they need.

Sheridan and Casper prices?

[Exwyocowboy]

New builds in Casper $300-500k

In Sheridan- about double

The problem is cheap siding which burns too fast and quickly

[nowhereman427]

Originally Posted by StealthRabbit

I 2nd^



I consider Sheridan quite a 'Full Service community' + Jr college town. Granted... medical specialists and Costco require a road trip. But for a welcoming community with 4-H and other family centric activities I find it much better choice than Casper (which I am always happy to get away from). Engaged community and most people really love living there (not always true in Casper, many are there out of necessity and vow to leave ASAP.) Exceptions to each exist.

Sheridan / Dayton has a nice setting and good access to some great territory. (Bighorns)
I spent many yrs visiting there every weekend when my disabled father was in Sheridan VA Medical Center + my job took me to Casper and Sheridan every other day for ~ 10 yrs.

Dayton and the Big Horns?

[Ltdumbear]

Billings, Rapid City, Scottsbluff, Denver/Boulder, Salt Lake City, Idaho Falls, and Bozeman.

All would be great-choices, for what you're looking for.