Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Billings, MT
VS
Carmel, IN
🏆 Carmel leads 14 of 23 categories
Billings
Montana
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$69,692
Violent Crime Index
196⚠ High
Population
117,093 ✓ Larger
Carmel
Indiana
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.6
Median Household Income
$132,859 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
17 ✓ Safer
Population
99,453
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Billings, MT
Pros
Homes cost $141k less ($285,300 vs $425,900)
Rent averages $435/mo less ($1,064 vs $1,499)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.6)
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Carmel
Cons
Median income trails Carmel by $63,167/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
Carmel, IN
Pros
Households earn $63,167 more per year on average
91% less violent crime than Billings
More college-educated — 73.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (66.0 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (2.6%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.6)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $425,900
Higher rents — median is $1,499/mo
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Billings
Key Differences at a Glance
Billings
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 89.6 vs 94.6 (100 = US avg)
Billings
Median Home Value
$141k less
$285,300 vs $425,900
Carmel
Median Income
$63,167
$132,859 vs $69,692/yr
Carmel
Violent Crime
91% lower
66.0 vs 746.1 per 100k
Carmel
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
2.6% vs 3.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Billings, MT | Carmel, IN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.6 ✓ Cheaper | 94.6 |
| Median Home Value | $285,300 ✓ Lower | $425,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,064 ✓ Lower | $1,499⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $69,692 | $132,859 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.6% | 2.6% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.2 min ✓ Shorter | 25.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.7% | 21.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 177⚠ High | 26 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 196⚠ High | 17 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 147⚠ High | 39 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) | A (120) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.3:1 | 15.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.2% | 73.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 95.7% | 98.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Elder Grove Elem | Carmel Clay Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.0°F ✓ Warmer | 34.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 87.3°F ✓ Warmer | 84.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.3" ✓ Drier | 44.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 57.4" | 20.3" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 117,093 ✓ Larger | 99,453 |
| Median Age | 37.7 | 40.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 64.8% | 74.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.7% | 24.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 18.0% ✓ More | 14.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Billings's cost of living index is 89.6 vs Carmel's 94.6 (US average = 100).
Billings is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Carmel leads 14 of 23 categories. Billings wins 9 and Carmel 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 Carmel or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($285,300 vs $425,900 median home), income ($69,692 vs $132,859), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Billings, MT and Carmel, IN are about 1,199 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.