Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Billings, MT
VS
Germantown, MD
🏆 Billings leads 11 of 20 categories
Billings
Montana
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$69,692
Violent Crime Index
196⚠ High
Population
117,093 ✓ Larger
Germantown
Maryland
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$109,268 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
90,210
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Billings, MT
Pros
Rent averages $844/mo less ($1,064 vs $1,908)
Homes cost $108k less ($285,300 vs $393,700)
Commutes run 16 min shorter each way
19% cheaper overall cost of living than Germantown
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (3.6%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.6)
Cons
Median income trails Germantown by $39,576/yr
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
Germantown, MD
Pros
Households earn $39,576 more per year on average
More college-educated — 48.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 13.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,908/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $393,700
Cost of living runs 19% higher than Billings
Higher unemployment (5.2% vs 3.6%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Billings
Cost of Living
19% cheaper
COL index 89.6 vs 108.6 (100 = US avg)
Billings
Median Home Value
$108k less
$285,300 vs $393,700
Billings
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
3.6% vs 5.2% unemployment
Billings
Summer Heat
3.0°F warmer
July avg high 87.3°F vs 84.3°F
Germantown
Median Income
$39,576
$109,268 vs $69,692/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Billings, MT | Germantown, MD |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.6 ✓ Cheaper | 108.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $285,300 ✓ Lower | $393,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,064 ✓ Lower | $1,908⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $69,692 | $109,268 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.6% ✓ Lower | 5.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.2 min ✓ Shorter | 33.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.7% | 16.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 177⚠ High | — |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 196⚠ High | — |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 147⚠ High | — |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) | A- (116) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.3:1 | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.2% | 48.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 95.7% ✓ Higher | 89.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Elder Grove Elem | Montgomery County Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.0°F | 39.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.3°F ✓ Warmer | 84.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.3" ✓ Drier | 46.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 57.4" | 32.6" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 117,093 ✓ Larger | 90,210 |
| Median Age | 37.7 ✓ Older | 36.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 64.8% | 65.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.7% | 24.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 18.0% ✓ More | 10.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Billings's cost of living index is 89.6 vs Germantown's 108.6 (US average = 100).
Billings is 19% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Billings leads 11 of 20 categories. Billings wins 11 and Germantown 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 Germantown or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($285,300 vs $393,700 median home), income ($69,692 vs $109,268), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Billings, MT and Germantown, MD are about 1,647 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.