Top 200 Towns

Affordable, thriving and perfectly wild towns in America. Outdoor Life presents the 2nd Annual Top 200 Towns for Sportsmen!

As the country continues to sweat through its worst financial crisis in 80 years, a lot of Americans, including outdoorsmen, are taking this opportunity to start fresh in a new location. If you count yourself among these ranks, and are thinking about pulling up stakes and settling down in a new town that provides a generally higher quality of life, you've come to the right place. We've done all the legwork in determining the top U.S. towns for folks who love the outdoors but don't want to sacrifice things like decent homes and schools, good-paying jobs and everyday amenities.

This is Sheridan, Wyoming's second consecutive year in the Top Ten of the Top 200 Towns for Sportsman!  Outdoor Life's REPORT CARD ranks Sheridan as #7:

• Fishable Species A-
• Huntable Species A
• Public-Land Access A
• Trophy Potential A-
• Gun Laws A

The rising cost of living in Sheridan is a point of constant consternation for the locals, as East and West Coasters flock to this paradise of the Rocky Mountain West . . .

Nonetheless, no one seems to complain about the hunting bounty, which includes prairie grouse and antelope on the plains surrounding town, and bears, elk and mule deer in the Big Horn Mountains. Whitetails and turkeys are found along the Tongue River just outside of Sheridan. Alpine lakes, picturesque trout streams and the nearby Tongue River Reservoir provide ample angling opportunities.

The upside to all the growth that Sheridan has experienced in the past decade is abundant retail opportunities, a strong economy and amenities that range from a small college to live theater and music.

• Population/% Growth Since 2000 – 16,179/+3.2%
• Median Home Price – $158,634
• Median Household Income – $42,466
• Unemployment – 4.6%