Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Anchorage, AK
VS
Billings, MT
🏆 Billings leads 16 of 21 categories
Anchorage
Alaska
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$95,731 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
267⚠ High
Population
290,674 ✓ Larger
Billings
Montana
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$69,692
Violent Crime Index
196⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
117,093
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Anchorage, AK
Pros
Households earn $26,039 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 67°F vs 87°F
Cons
Violent crime (1014.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,405/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $363,800
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Billings
Billings, MT
Pros
26% less violent crime than Anchorage
Rent averages $341/mo less ($1,064 vs $1,405)
Homes cost $79k less ($285,300 vs $363,800)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (3.6%)
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Anchorage
Milder winters — January highs near 36°F vs 21°F
Cons
Median income trails Anchorage by $26,039/yr
Violent crime (746.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3083.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 57" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Anchorage
Median Income
$26,039
$95,731 vs $69,692/yr
Billings
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 89.6 vs 104.5 (100 = US avg)
Billings
Violent Crime
26% lower
746.1 vs 1014.8 per 100k
Billings
Median Home Value
$79k less
$285,300 vs $363,800
Billings
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
3.6% vs 5.2% unemployment
Billings
Summer Heat
19.9°F warmer
July avg high 87.3°F vs 67.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Anchorage, AK | Billings, MT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.5⚠ High | 89.6 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $363,800⚠ High | $285,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,405⚠ High | $1,064 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $95,731 ✓ Higher | $69,692 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High | 3.6% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.1 min | 17.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.7% ✓ Higher | 6.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 213⚠ High | 177⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 267⚠ High | 196⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 132⚠ High ✓ Safer | 147⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) | B- (94) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.3:1 | 19.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.0% | 37.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 94.2% | 95.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Anchorage School District | Elder Grove Elem |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 20.9°F | 36.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 67.4°F | 87.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 22.6" | 14.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 59.3" | 57.4" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 290,674 ✓ Larger | 117,093 |
| Median Age | 34.5 | 37.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 63.8% | 64.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.9% ✓ More | 22.7% |
| Over 65 | 12.0% | 18.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Anchorage's cost of living index is 104.5 vs Billings's 89.6 (US average = 100).
Billings is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Billings leads 16 of 21 categories. Anchorage wins 5 and Billings wins 16. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Anchorage to Billings or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($363,800 vs $285,300 median home), income ($95,731 vs $69,692), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Anchorage, AK and Billings, MT are about 1,937 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.