COSA,
Like any small town in western America, it is and will be what you make of it. The bottom line is that Rawlins, like many other central and southern Wyoming towns, is an industry driven town (oil and gas - boom and bust), with what is considered (in modern America I guess) few amenities. It can be kind of frustrating if you're used to living in clean and tidy suburbia, and you won't be able to satisfy your every want and need within several city blocks.
The schools have had their ups and downs, no doubt. During the last boom (1980's), the school district was the second richest in the U.S., but since we now re-apportion our oil and gas tax revenues with the rest of the state, things aren't quite so flush. From what we've experienced since our kids have been in school, the district is on an upwards swing quality wise (overall education, scholastics, sports, and faculty.) It seems like we're getting more and more kids returning from college to teach our children and put back into the community they grew up in, which is great in my mind.
Housing can run hot and cold, but from what I'm seeing, it's a bit of a buyer's market at this time, with alot on the market, ranging from unlivable crap to higher-end, newer neighborhoods where prices average the mid 200's (which is pretty high for this area.) Count on spending upwards of 150-175 for a nicer middle class place.
Recreation speaks for itself, you can find plenty on these boards about the area and its draws. There's also a world class shooting range w/ trap, skeet, archery, and a rifle range out past 1000 yds. There's a "high desert" type golf course next to town and a river bottom course next door along the Platte. Mountains are (reletively) close in all directions. Although there's bad apples like anywhere, the people for the most part are great.
I imagine that coming from northern Nevada, it wouldn't be much of a culture shock for you. I would advise that anyone that has to have all of the modern conveniences within immediate access, can't stand cold and windy days (or hot and windy days, or mild and windy days...) and needs to be in the middle of a lush green forest or putting green, might not consider coming to this area. Anyone that can't find the beauty in the "big empty" high desert probably would go crazy here. I'll probably take some flack for this, but IMO, the quality of life in any boom and bust energy town is much, much better during the bust times (which we're in at the moment.)
Best of luck with your decision and job.