Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Billings, MT
VS
Chesapeake, VA
🏆 Chesapeake leads 13 of 23 categories
Billings
Montana
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$69,692
Violent Crime Index
196⚠ High
Population
117,093
Chesapeake
Virginia
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4
Median Household Income
$92,703 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
89 ✓ Safer
Population
249,377 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Billings, MT
Pros
Rent averages $382/mo less ($1,064 vs $1,446)
Homes cost $54k less ($285,300 vs $339,500)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (3.6%)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.6)
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Chesapeake
Cons
Violent crime (746.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Chesapeake by $23,011/yr
Property crime (3083.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 57" of snow per year
Chesapeake, VA
Pros
55% less violent crime than Billings
Households earn $23,011 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 54°F vs 36°F
Smaller class sizes — 13.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,446/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $339,500
Higher unemployment (5.0% vs 3.6%)
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Billings
Key Differences at a Glance
Billings
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 89.6 vs 97.4 (100 = US avg)
Billings
Median Home Value
$54k less
$285,300 vs $339,500
Billings
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
3.6% vs 5.0% unemployment
Chesapeake
Median Income
$23,011
$92,703 vs $69,692/yr
Chesapeake
Violent Crime
55% lower
339.4 vs 746.1 per 100k
Chesapeake
Summer Heat
5.2°F warmer
July avg high 92.5°F vs 87.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Billings, MT | Chesapeake, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.6 ✓ Cheaper | 97.4 |
| Median Home Value | $285,300 ✓ Lower | $339,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,064 ✓ Lower | $1,446⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $69,692 | $92,703 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.6% ✓ Lower | 5.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.2 min ✓ Shorter | 26.0 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.7% | 9.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 177⚠ High | 87 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 196⚠ High | 89 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 147⚠ High | 83 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.3:1 | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.2% ✓ Higher | 35.8% |
| High School or Higher | 95.7% ✓ Higher | 93.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Elder Grove Elem | Chesapeake City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.0°F | 54.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.3°F | 92.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.3" ✓ Drier | 54.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 57.4" | 6.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 117,093 | 249,377 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.7 ✓ Older | 37.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 64.8% | 73.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.7% | 24.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 18.0% ✓ More | 13.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Billings's cost of living index is 89.6 vs Chesapeake's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Billings is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Chesapeake leads 13 of 23 categories. Billings wins 10 and Chesapeake 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 Billings to Chesapeake or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($285,300 vs $339,500 median home), income ($69,692 vs $92,703), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Billings, MT and Chesapeake, VA are about 1,775 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.