Scottsbluff and Riverton receive effectively the same standardized Area Score. Which fits you better depends on which dimensions you weight — the differences below are where they actually diverge.
Signals
Scottsbluff
Riverton
Opportunity
40 · Bottom 18%
vs45 · Bottom 26%
Growth
42 · Bottom 35%
vs42 · Bottom 35%
Climate
56 · Bottom 7%
vs51 · Bottom 1%
Physical resilience
28 · Bottom 22%
vs32 · Bottom 25%
Housing affordability
94 · Top 22%
vs84 · Top 44%
Access
97 · Top 29%
vs97 · Top 29%
Economic stability
53 · Bottom 35%
vs55 · Bottom 40%
Measured values
| Metric | Scottsbluff | Riverton | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 14,376 | 10,856 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $56,359 | $55,208 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $37,223 | $28,564 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 2,168/sq mi | 1,048/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $137,700 | $219,400 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $966 | $921 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 59.4% | 55.1% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 3.6% | 3.2% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -7.7% | -2.7% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 26.3% | 24.1% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 15.4% | 11.9% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 11 | 11 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 0.8 | 1.0 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 120.0% | 0.0% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 91°F | 88°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 15°F | 8°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 15.7" | 8.6" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 3 mi | 5 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 13.5 min | 15.6 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 38.8 | 35.1 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
Scottsbluff
Elevated or high exposure: hail, cold wave.
Riverton
Elevated or high exposure: wildfire, earthquake.
Your best match
Weight what matters to you. Your preferences stay in this browser and never change either Area Score.
Scottsbluff
57
Your Score
52
Area Score
Riverton
58
Your Score
52
Area Score
Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: Scottsbluff, NE · Riverton, WY · How this is calculated: methodology