Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Billings, MT
VS
Dayton, OH
🏆 Billings leads 16 of 23 categories
Billings
Montana
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$69,692 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
196⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
117,093
Dayton
Ohio
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.3
Median Household Income
$41,443
Violent Crime Index
352⚠ High
Population
137,305 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Billings, MT
Pros
Households earn $28,249 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 6.4 pts lower (3.6%)
44% less violent crime than Dayton
More college-educated — 37.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.6)
Cons
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
Dayton, OH
Pros
Homes cost $199k less ($86,200 vs $285,300)
Rent averages $234/mo less ($830 vs $1,064)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.3)
Smaller class sizes — 17.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Billings by $28,249/yr
Violent crime (1339.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4334.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (10.0% vs 3.6%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Billings
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 89.6 vs 92.3 (100 = US avg)
Billings
Median Income
$28,249
$69,692 vs $41,443/yr
Billings
Violent Crime
44% lower
746.1 vs 1339.2 per 100k
Billings
Unemployment
6.4 pp lower
3.6% vs 10.0% unemployment
Dayton
Median Home Value
$199k less
$86,200 vs $285,300
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Billings, MT | Dayton, OH |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.6 ✓ Cheaper | 92.3 |
| Median Home Value | $285,300 | $86,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,064 | $830 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $69,692 ✓ Higher | $41,443 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.6% ✓ Lower | 10.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.2 min ✓ Shorter | 21.1 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.7% | 7.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 177⚠ High ✓ Safer | 294⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 196⚠ High ✓ Safer | 352⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 147⚠ High ✓ Safer | 206⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) ✓ Better | C (77) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.3:1 | 17.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.2% ✓ Higher | 19.6% |
| High School or Higher | 95.7% ✓ Higher | 86.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Elder Grove Elem | Dayton City |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.0°F | 36.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.3°F ✓ Warmer | 86.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.3" ✓ Drier | 41.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 57.4" | 12.3" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 117,093 | 137,305 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.7 ✓ Older | 34.0 |
| Homeownership Rate | 64.8% ✓ Higher | 48.4% |
| Under 18 | 22.7% ✓ More | 20.9% |
| Over 65 | 18.0% ✓ More | 13.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Billings's cost of living index is 89.6 vs Dayton's 92.3 (US average = 100).
Billings is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Billings leads 16 of 23 categories. Billings wins 16 and Dayton wins 7. 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 Dayton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($285,300 vs $86,200 median home), income ($69,692 vs $41,443), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Billings, MT and Dayton, OH are about 1,297 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.