Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Billings, MT
VS
Chino, CA
🏆 Billings leads 13 of 23 categories
Billings
Montana
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$69,692
Violent Crime Index
196⚠ High
Population
117,093 ✓ Larger
Chino
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$99,385 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
79 ✓ Safer
Population
91,008
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Billings, MT
Pros
Homes cost $314k less ($285,300 vs $599,200)
Rent averages $937/mo less ($1,064 vs $2,001)
Commutes run 17 min shorter each way
18% cheaper overall cost of living than Chino
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.9 pts lower (3.6%)
More college-educated — 37.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Chino by $29,693/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
Chino, CA
Pros
60% less violent crime than Billings
Households earn $29,693 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 36°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $599,200
Higher rents — median is $2,001/mo
Cost of living runs 18% higher than Billings
Higher unemployment (5.5% vs 3.6%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Billings
Cost of Living
18% cheaper
COL index 89.6 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Billings
Median Home Value
$314k less
$285,300 vs $599,200
Billings
Unemployment
1.9 pp lower
3.6% vs 5.5% unemployment
Chino
Median Income
$29,693
$99,385 vs $69,692/yr
Chino
Violent Crime
60% lower
299.5 vs 746.1 per 100k
Chino
Summer Heat
6.4°F warmer
July avg high 93.7°F vs 87.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Billings, MT | Chino, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.6 ✓ Cheaper | 107.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $285,300 ✓ Lower | $599,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,064 ✓ Lower | $2,001⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $69,692 | $99,385 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.6% ✓ Lower | 5.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.2 min ✓ Shorter | 34.2 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.7% | 13.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 177⚠ High | 89 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 196⚠ High | 79 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 147⚠ High | 105⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.2% ✓ Higher | 28.1% |
| High School or Higher | 95.7% ✓ Higher | 83.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Elder Grove Elem | Chino Valley Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.0°F | 69.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.3°F | 93.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.3" | 10.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 57.4" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 117,093 ✓ Larger | 91,008 |
| Median Age | 37.7 ✓ Older | 36.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 64.8% ✓ Higher | 63.7% |
| Under 18 | 22.7% | 23.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 18.0% ✓ More | 12.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Billings's cost of living index is 89.6 vs Chino's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Billings is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Billings leads 13 of 23 categories. Billings wins 13 and Chino wins 10. 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 Chino or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($285,300 vs $599,200 median home), income ($69,692 vs $99,385), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Billings, MT and Chino, CA are about 947 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.