Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Augusta-Richmond County, GA
VS
Billings, MT
🏆 Billings leads 11 of 20 categories
Augusta-Richmond County
Georgia
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.0
Median Household Income
$50,492
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
201,615 ✓ Larger
Billings
Montana
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$69,692 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
196⚠ High
Population
117,093
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Augusta-Richmond County, GA
Pros
Homes cost $143k less ($141,900 vs $285,300)
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 36°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.0)
Smaller class sizes — 14.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Billings by $19,200/yr
Higher unemployment (8.3% vs 3.6%)
Billings, MT
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.7 pts lower (3.6%)
Households earn $19,200 more per year on average
More college-educated — 37.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.6)
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 94°F
Cons
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
Augusta-Richmond County
Median Home Value
$143k less
$141,900 vs $285,300
Augusta-Richmond County
Summer Heat
6.8°F warmer
July avg high 94.1°F vs 87.3°F
Billings
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 89.6 vs 91.0 (100 = US avg)
Billings
Median Income
$19,200
$69,692 vs $50,492/yr
Billings
Unemployment
4.7 pp lower
3.6% vs 8.3% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Augusta-Richmond County, GA | Billings, MT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.0 | 89.6 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $141,900 ✓ Lower | $285,300 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,023 ✓ Lower | $1,064 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $50,492 | $69,692 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.3%⚠ High | 3.6% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.2 min | 17.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.0% ✓ Higher | 6.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | — | 177⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 196⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 147⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (90) | B- (94) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 23.8% | 37.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.7% | 95.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Richmond County | Elder Grove Elem |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 59.6°F ✓ Warmer | 36.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.1°F ✓ Warmer | 87.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.1" | 14.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.8" ✓ Less | 57.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 201,615 ✓ Larger | 117,093 |
| Median Age | 34.6 | 37.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.0% | 64.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.9% ✓ More | 22.7% |
| Over 65 | 14.5% | 18.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Augusta-Richmond County's cost of living index is 91.0 vs Billings's 89.6 (US average = 100).
Billings is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Billings leads 11 of 20 categories. Augusta-Richmond County wins 9 and Billings wins 11. 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 Augusta-Richmond County to Billings or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($141,900 vs $285,300 median home), income ($50,492 vs $69,692), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Augusta-Richmond County, GA and Billings, MT are about 1,639 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.
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