Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Billings, MT
VS
Fort Collins, CO
🏆 Fort Collins leads 13 of 23 categories
Billings
Montana
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$69,692
Violent Crime Index
196⚠ High
Population
117,093
Fort Collins
Colorado
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.6
Median Household Income
$78,977 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
72 ✓ Safer
Population
168,758 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Billings, MT
Pros
Homes cost $212k less ($285,300 vs $497,400)
Rent averages $512/mo less ($1,064 vs $1,576)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.7 pts lower (3.6%)
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.6)
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Fort Collins
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
Median income trails Fort Collins by $9,285/yr
Snowy winters — about 57" of snow per year
Fort Collins, CO
Pros
63% less violent crime than Billings
More college-educated — 58.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $9,285 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 45°F vs 36°F
Smaller class sizes — 15.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $497,400
Higher rents — median is $1,576/mo
Higher unemployment (5.3% vs 3.6%)
Cost of living runs 7% higher than Billings
Key Differences at a Glance
Billings
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 89.6 vs 96.6 (100 = US avg)
Billings
Median Home Value
$212k less
$285,300 vs $497,400
Billings
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
3.6% vs 5.3% unemployment
Fort Collins
Median Income
$9,285
$78,977 vs $69,692/yr
Fort Collins
Violent Crime
63% lower
272.7 vs 746.1 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Billings, MT | Fort Collins, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.6 ✓ Cheaper | 96.6 |
| Median Home Value | $285,300 ✓ Lower | $497,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,064 ✓ Lower | $1,576⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $69,692 | $78,977 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.6% ✓ Lower | 5.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.2 min ✓ Shorter | 20.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.7% | 17.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 177⚠ High | 84 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 196⚠ High | 72 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 147⚠ High | 103⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) | A- (113) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.3:1 | 15.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.2% | 58.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 95.7% | 97.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Elder Grove Elem | Poudre School District R-1 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.0°F | 45.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.3°F | 87.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.3" ✓ Drier | 16.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 57.4" | 49.3" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 117,093 | 168,758 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.7 ✓ Older | 30.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 64.8% ✓ Higher | 51.7% |
| Under 18 | 22.7% ✓ More | 16.9% |
| Over 65 | 18.0% ✓ More | 11.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Billings's cost of living index is 89.6 vs Fort Collins's 96.6 (US average = 100).
Billings is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fort Collins leads 13 of 23 categories. Billings wins 10 and Fort Collins wins 13. 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 Fort Collins or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($285,300 vs $497,400 median home), income ($69,692 vs $78,977), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Billings, MT and Fort Collins, CO are about 402 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.