Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Billings, MT
VS
Birmingham, AL
🏆 Billings leads 15 of 23 categories
Billings
Montana
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$69,692 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
196⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
117,093
Birmingham
Alabama
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.6
Median Household Income
$42,464
Violent Crime Index
328⚠ High
Population
200,431 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Billings, MT
Pros
Households earn $27,228 more per year on average
40% less violent crime than Birmingham
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.9 pts lower (3.6%)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 37.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.6)
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
Birmingham, AL
Pros
Homes cost $162k less ($123,000 vs $285,300)
Milder winters — January highs near 55°F vs 36°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.6)
Cons
Median income trails Billings by $27,228/yr
Violent crime (1246.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4031.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.5% vs 3.6%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Billings
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 89.6 vs 92.6 (100 = US avg)
Billings
Median Income
$27,228
$69,692 vs $42,464/yr
Billings
Violent Crime
40% lower
746.1 vs 1246.6 per 100k
Billings
Unemployment
3.9 pp lower
3.6% vs 7.5% unemployment
Birmingham
Median Home Value
$162k less
$123,000 vs $285,300
Birmingham
Summer Heat
3.7°F warmer
July avg high 91.0°F vs 87.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Billings, MT | Birmingham, AL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.6 ✓ Cheaper | 92.6 |
| Median Home Value | $285,300 | $123,000 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,064 | $995 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $69,692 ✓ Higher | $42,464 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.6% ✓ Lower | 7.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.2 min ✓ Shorter | 21.6 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.7% | 7.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 177⚠ High ✓ Safer | 274⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 196⚠ High ✓ Safer | 328⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 147⚠ High ✓ Safer | 192⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) ✓ Better | C+ (89) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.3:1 | 19.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.2% ✓ Higher | 29.4% |
| High School or Higher | 95.7% ✓ Higher | 88.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Elder Grove Elem | Birmingham City |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.0°F | 54.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.3°F | 91.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.3" ✓ Drier | 58.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 57.4" | 1.4" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 117,093 | 200,431 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.7 ✓ Older | 35.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 64.8% ✓ Higher | 45.9% |
| Under 18 | 22.7% ✓ More | 19.5% |
| Over 65 | 18.0% ✓ More | 16.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Billings's cost of living index is 89.6 vs Birmingham's 92.6 (US average = 100).
Billings is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Billings leads 15 of 23 categories. Billings wins 15 and Birmingham wins 8. 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 Billings to Birmingham or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($285,300 vs $123,000 median home), income ($69,692 vs $42,464), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Billings, MT and Birmingham, AL are about 1,426 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.