Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Billings, MT
VS
Eugene, OR
🏆 Billings leads 14 of 23 categories
Billings
Montana
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$69,692 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
196⚠ High
Population
117,093
Eugene
Oregon
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$61,481
Violent Crime Index
84 ✓ Safer
Population
176,755 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Billings, MT
Pros
Homes cost $121k less ($285,300 vs $406,000)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.5 pts lower (3.6%)
Rent averages $205/mo less ($1,064 vs $1,269)
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Eugene
Households earn $8,211 more per year on average
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
Eugene, OR
Pros
57% less violent crime than Billings
More college-educated — 44.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 36°F
Smaller class sizes — 17.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $406,000
Cost of living runs 14% higher than Billings
Property crime (3255.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Billings by $8,211/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Billings
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 89.6 vs 103.8 (100 = US avg)
Billings
Median Income
$8,211
$69,692 vs $61,481/yr
Billings
Median Home Value
$121k less
$285,300 vs $406,000
Billings
Unemployment
3.5 pp lower
3.6% vs 7.1% unemployment
Billings
Summer Heat
3.3°F warmer
July avg high 87.3°F vs 84.0°F
Eugene
Violent Crime
57% lower
317.9 vs 746.1 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Billings, MT | Eugene, OR |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.6 ✓ Cheaper | 103.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $285,300 ✓ Lower | $406,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,064 ✓ Lower | $1,269 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $69,692 ✓ Higher | $61,481 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.6% ✓ Lower | 7.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.2 min ✓ Shorter | 18.6 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.7% | 13.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 177⚠ High | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 196⚠ High | 84 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 147⚠ High ✓ Safer | 155⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) | B (103) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.3:1 | 17.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.2% | 44.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 95.7% ✓ Higher | 94.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Elder Grove Elem | Eugene SD 4J |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.0°F | 48.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.3°F ✓ Warmer | 84.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.3" ✓ Drier | 45.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 57.4" | 2.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 117,093 | 176,755 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.7 ✓ Older | 35.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 64.8% ✓ Higher | 47.8% |
| Under 18 | 22.7% ✓ More | 16.3% |
| Over 65 | 18.0% ✓ More | 17.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Billings's cost of living index is 89.6 vs Eugene's 103.8 (US average = 100).
Billings is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Billings leads 14 of 23 categories. Billings wins 14 and Eugene wins 9. 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 Eugene or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($285,300 vs $406,000 median home), income ($69,692 vs $61,481), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Billings, MT and Eugene, OR are about 722 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.