Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Billings, MT
VS
Broken Arrow, OK
🏆 Broken Arrow leads 14 of 23 categories
Billings
Montana
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.6
Median Household Income
$69,692
Violent Crime Index
196⚠ High
Population
117,093 ✓ Larger
Broken Arrow
Oklahoma
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$82,547 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
59 ✓ Safer
Population
114,237
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Billings, MT
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (3.6%)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Rent averages $119/mo less ($1,064 vs $1,183)
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
Median income trails Broken Arrow by $12,855/yr
Property crime (3083.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 57" of snow per year
Broken Arrow, OK
Pros
70% less violent crime than Billings
Homes cost $75k less ($210,800 vs $285,300)
Violent crime is well below the national average (223.1 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $12,855 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 49°F vs 36°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.5)
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Billings
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
3.6% vs 4.3% unemployment
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 89.6 on the COL index
Broken Arrow
Median Income
$12,855
$82,547 vs $69,692/yr
Broken Arrow
Violent Crime
70% lower
223.1 vs 746.1 per 100k
Broken Arrow
Median Home Value
$75k less
$210,800 vs $285,300
Broken Arrow
Summer Heat
6.2°F warmer
July avg high 93.5°F vs 87.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Billings, MT | Broken Arrow, OK |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.6 | 89.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $285,300 | $210,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,064 ✓ Lower | $1,183 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $69,692 | $82,547 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.6% ✓ Lower | 4.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.2 min ✓ Shorter | 21.6 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.7% | 9.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 177⚠ High | 58 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 196⚠ High | 59 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 147⚠ High | 57 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) | B (97) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.3:1 | 17.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.2% ✓ Higher | 34.4% |
| High School or Higher | 95.7% ✓ Higher | 94.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Elder Grove Elem | BROKEN ARROW |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.0°F | 48.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.3°F | 93.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.3" ✓ Drier | 42.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 57.4" | 8.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 117,093 ✓ Larger | 114,237 |
| Median Age | 37.7 ✓ Older | 36.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 64.8% | 72.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.7% | 25.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 18.0% ✓ More | 15.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Billings's cost of living index is 89.6 vs Broken Arrow's 89.5 (US average = 100).
Broken Arrow is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Broken Arrow leads 14 of 23 categories. Billings wins 9 and Broken Arrow wins 14. 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 Broken Arrow or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($285,300 vs $210,800 median home), income ($69,692 vs $82,547), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Billings, MT and Broken Arrow, OK are about 946 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.