I have lived in Rock Springs which is in the South West of the state for close to 18 months now. I love it here. I am English and my company transfered me here as part of the current massive gas exploration boom.
Yes it is hard here. My first winter here I encountered the coldest temperatures I have ever seen -40 F and then there was the windchill. I have shut down job convoys because the weather was so bad it was to dangerous to drive. In the summer the heat is intense and my first few months here I had nosebleeds constantly due to the altitude and the wind seems to constantly blow and the dust is astonishing. But I love the fact that I am not constantly stuck in traffic jams on the way to work. Yes it tends to be very “small town” and everyone knows your business but I like that there is no state tax and I can take my truck up White Mountain behind my house and watch the wild horses. I can drive couple hours and go sking in winter or camping in the summer in the back country away from the tourist masses or if I just want to go fishing. I have had to stop my car because a herd of antelope wanted to cross the road. I love the Jackson area mainly due to the Teton’s and Yellowstone is impressive because of what is going on underneath. If I want to go shopping desperately I can drive to Casper or Cheyenne or Salt Lake City.
The state is booming - the natural resources in the state are enormous. Oil, gas, coal, trona etc etc. It is true that a lot of the educated people leave but there are a lot of opportunities here if you want to make it.
All in all I love living and working here. Good people & relatively low cost of living although medical care does sometimes leave a lot to be desired. Besides it was 70 degrees here this weekend what is not to love!