Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Billings, MT
VS
El Monte, CA
🏆 Billings leads 17 of 23 categories
Billings
Montana
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$69,692 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
196⚠ High
Population
117,093 ✓ Larger
El Monte
California
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$59,929
Violent Crime Index
111⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
108,682
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Billings, MT
Pros
Homes cost $312k less ($285,300 vs $597,200)
Rent averages $541/mo less ($1,064 vs $1,605)
26% cheaper overall cost of living than El Monte
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.4 pts lower (3.6%)
Commutes run 12 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 37.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
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
El Monte, CA
Pros
43% less violent crime than Billings
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 36°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $597,200
Higher rents — median is $1,605/mo
Cost of living runs 26% higher than Billings
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Billings
Cost of Living
26% cheaper
COL index 89.6 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Billings
Median Income
$9,763
$69,692 vs $59,929/yr
Billings
Median Home Value
$312k less
$285,300 vs $597,200
Billings
Unemployment
3.4 pp lower
3.6% vs 7.0% unemployment
El Monte
Violent Crime
43% lower
423.2 vs 746.1 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Billings, MT | El Monte, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.6 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $285,300 ✓ Lower | $597,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,064 ✓ Lower | $1,605⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $69,692 ✓ Higher | $59,929 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.6% ✓ Lower | 7.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.2 min ✓ Shorter | 29.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.7% ✓ Higher | 4.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 177⚠ High | 106⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 196⚠ High | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 147⚠ High | 98 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) ✓ Better | C- (66) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.3:1 | 19.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.2% ✓ Higher | 13.7% |
| High School or Higher | 95.7% ✓ Higher | 63.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Elder Grove Elem | Mountain View Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.0°F | 68.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.3°F ✓ Warmer | 85.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.3" ✓ Drier | 15.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 57.4" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 117,093 ✓ Larger | 108,682 |
| Median Age | 37.7 ✓ Older | 37.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 64.8% ✓ Higher | 39.6% |
| Under 18 | 22.7% ✓ More | 22.4% |
| Over 65 | 18.0% ✓ More | 14.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Billings's cost of living index is 89.6 vs El Monte's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Billings is 26% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Billings leads 17 of 23 categories. Billings wins 17 and El Monte wins 6. 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 El Monte or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($285,300 vs $597,200 median home), income ($69,692 vs $59,929), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Billings, MT and El Monte, CA are about 951 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.