Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Berkeley, CA
VS
Billings, MT
🏆 Billings leads 13 of 23 categories
Berkeley
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$104,716 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
168⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
121,385 ✓ Larger
Billings
Montana
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$69,692
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.
Berkeley, CA
Pros
Households earn $35,024 more per year on average
14% less violent crime than Billings
More college-educated — 73.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 36°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 74°F vs 87°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,280,300
Higher rents — median is $2,067/mo
Cost of living runs 29% higher than Billings
Violent crime (638.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Billings, MT
Pros
Homes cost $995k less ($285,300 vs $1,280,300)
Rent averages $1003/mo less ($1,064 vs $2,067)
29% cheaper overall cost of living than Berkeley
Commutes run 13 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.9 pts lower (3.6%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.6)
Cons
Median income trails Berkeley by $35,024/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
Berkeley
Median Income
$35,024
$104,716 vs $69,692/yr
Berkeley
Violent Crime
14% lower
638.8 vs 746.1 per 100k
Billings
Cost of Living
29% cheaper
COL index 89.6 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Billings
Median Home Value
$995k less
$285,300 vs $1,280,300
Billings
Unemployment
1.9 pp lower
3.6% vs 5.5% unemployment
Billings
Summer Heat
13.1°F warmer
July avg high 87.3°F vs 74.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Berkeley, CA | Billings, MT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 118.2⚠ High | 89.6 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $1,280,300⚠ High | $285,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,067⚠ High | $1,064 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $104,716 ✓ Higher | $69,692 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High | 3.6% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.4 min⚠ High | 17.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 28.1% ✓ Higher | 6.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 200⚠ High | 177⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 168⚠ High ✓ Safer | 196⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 249⚠ High | 147⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | B- (94) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 73.8% ✓ Higher | 37.2% |
| High School or Higher | 96.1% ✓ Higher | 95.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Berkeley Unified | Elder Grove Elem |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.9°F ✓ Warmer | 36.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 74.2°F | 87.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 26.1" | 14.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 57.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 121,385 ✓ Larger | 117,093 |
| Median Age | 32.5 | 37.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 43.3% | 64.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 12.2% | 22.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.9% | 18.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Berkeley's cost of living index is 118.2 vs Billings's 89.6 (US average = 100).
Billings is 29% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Billings leads 13 of 23 categories. Berkeley wins 10 and Billings wins 13. 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 Berkeley to Billings or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($1,280,300 vs $285,300 median home), income ($104,716 vs $69,692), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Berkeley, CA and Billings, MT are about 893 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.