Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Billings, MT
VS
Cambridge, MA
🏆 Cambridge leads 12 of 23 categories
Billings
Montana
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$69,692
Violent Crime Index
196⚠ High
Population
117,093
Cambridge
Massachusetts
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$121,539 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
115⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
117,962 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Billings, MT
Pros
Homes cost $712k less ($285,300 vs $997,600)
Rent averages $1564/mo less ($1,064 vs $2,628)
22% cheaper overall cost of living than Cambridge
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.6)
Cons
Median income trails Cambridge by $51,847/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
Cambridge, MA
Pros
Households earn $51,847 more per year on average
41% less violent crime than Billings
More college-educated — 79.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 9.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $997,600
Higher rents — median is $2,628/mo
Cost of living runs 22% higher than Billings
Property crime (2644.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Billings
Cost of Living
22% cheaper
COL index 89.6 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Billings
Median Home Value
$712k less
$285,300 vs $997,600
Cambridge
Median Income
$51,847
$121,539 vs $69,692/yr
Cambridge
Violent Crime
41% lower
436.7 vs 746.1 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Billings, MT | Cambridge, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.6 ✓ Cheaper | 111.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $285,300 ✓ Lower | $997,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,064 ✓ Lower | $2,628⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $69,692 | $121,539 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.6% | 3.3% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.2 min ✓ Shorter | 26.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.7% | 25.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 177⚠ High | 119⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 196⚠ High | 115⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 147⚠ High | 126⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) | A+ (135) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.3:1 | 9.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.2% | 79.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 95.7% ✓ Higher | 95.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Elder Grove Elem | Cambridge |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.0°F | 37.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.3°F ✓ Warmer | 84.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.3" ✓ Drier | 49.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 57.4" | 49.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 117,093 | 117,962 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.7 ✓ Older | 30.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 64.8% ✓ Higher | 33.6% |
| Under 18 | 22.7% ✓ More | 12.2% |
| Over 65 | 18.0% ✓ More | 11.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Billings's cost of living index is 89.6 vs Cambridge's 111.6 (US average = 100).
Billings is 22% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Cambridge leads 12 of 23 categories. Billings wins 11 and Cambridge wins 12. 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 Cambridge or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($285,300 vs $997,600 median home), income ($69,692 vs $121,539), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Billings, MT and Cambridge, MA are about 1,856 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.