Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Billings, MT
VS
Concord, 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
Concord
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$107,789 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
128⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
125,007 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Billings, MT
Pros
Homes cost $421k less ($285,300 vs $706,700)
Rent averages $1073/mo less ($1,064 vs $2,137)
29% cheaper overall cost of living than Concord
Commutes run 16 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.3 pts lower (3.6%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.6)
Cons
Median income trails Concord by $38,097/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
Concord, CA
Pros
Households earn $38,097 more per year on average
35% less violent crime than Billings
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 36°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $706,700
Higher rents — median is $2,137/mo
Cost of living runs 29% higher than Billings
Violent crime (484.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Key Differences at a Glance
Billings
Cost of Living
29% cheaper
COL index 89.6 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Billings
Median Home Value
$421k less
$285,300 vs $706,700
Billings
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
3.6% vs 4.9% unemployment
Concord
Median Income
$38,097
$107,789 vs $69,692/yr
Concord
Violent Crime
35% lower
484.6 vs 746.1 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Billings, MT | Concord, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.6 ✓ Cheaper | 118.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $285,300 ✓ Lower | $706,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,064 ✓ Lower | $2,137⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $69,692 | $107,789 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.6% ✓ Lower | 4.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.2 min ✓ Shorter | 33.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.7% | 13.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 177⚠ High | 131⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 196⚠ High | 128⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 147⚠ High | 137⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) ✓ Better | B- (92) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.2% ✓ Higher | 36.7% |
| High School or Higher | 95.7% ✓ Higher | 88.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Elder Grove Elem | Mt. Diablo Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.0°F | 57.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.3°F | 88.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.3" ✓ Drier | 18.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 57.4" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 117,093 | 125,007 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.7 | 38.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 64.8% ✓ Higher | 61.1% |
| Under 18 | 22.7% ✓ More | 20.5% |
| Over 65 | 18.0% ✓ More | 15.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Billings's cost of living index is 89.6 vs Concord's 118.2 (US average = 100).
Billings is 29% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Billings leads 13 of 23 categories. Billings wins 13 and Concord 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 Concord or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($285,300 vs $706,700 median home), income ($69,692 vs $107,789), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Billings, MT and Concord, CA are about 876 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.