Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Billings, MT
VS
Detroit, MI
🏆 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
Detroit
Michigan
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0
Median Household Income
$37,761
Violent Crime Index
469⚠ High
Population
636,787 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Billings, MT
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 11.1 pts lower (3.6%)
Households earn $31,931 more per year on average
58% less violent crime than Detroit
More college-educated — 37.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Detroit
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
Detroit, MI
Pros
Homes cost $219k less ($66,700 vs $285,300)
Rent averages $75/mo less ($989 vs $1,064)
Smaller class sizes — 16.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Billings by $31,931/yr
Violent crime (1781.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4305.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (14.7% vs 3.6%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Billings
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 89.6 vs 98.0 (100 = US avg)
Billings
Median Income
$31,931
$69,692 vs $37,761/yr
Billings
Violent Crime
58% lower
746.1 vs 1781.3 per 100k
Billings
Unemployment
11.1 pp lower
3.6% vs 14.7% unemployment
Billings
Summer Heat
3.2°F warmer
July avg high 87.3°F vs 84.1°F
Detroit
Median Home Value
$219k less
$66,700 vs $285,300
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Billings, MT | Detroit, MI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.6 ✓ Cheaper | 98.0 |
| Median Home Value | $285,300 | $66,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,064 | $989 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $69,692 ✓ Higher | $37,761 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.6% ✓ Lower | 14.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.2 min ✓ Shorter | 25.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.7% | 8.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 177⚠ High ✓ Safer | 363⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 196⚠ High ✓ Safer | 469⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 147⚠ High ✓ Safer | 205⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) ✓ Better | C (79) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.3:1 | 16.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.2% ✓ Higher | 16.9% |
| High School or Higher | 95.7% ✓ Higher | 82.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Elder Grove Elem | Detroit Public Schools Community District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.0°F ✓ Warmer | 33.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 87.3°F ✓ Warmer | 84.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.3" ✓ Drier | 34.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 57.4" | 30.8" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 117,093 | 636,787 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.7 ✓ Older | 35.0 |
| Homeownership Rate | 64.8% ✓ Higher | 48.8% |
| Under 18 | 22.7% | 24.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 18.0% ✓ More | 14.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Billings's cost of living index is 89.6 vs Detroit's 98.0 (US average = 100).
Billings is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Billings leads 16 of 23 categories. Billings wins 16 and Detroit 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 Detroit or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($285,300 vs $66,700 median home), income ($69,692 vs $37,761), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Billings, MT and Detroit, MI are about 1,279 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.