Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Billings, MT
VS
Goodyear, AZ
🏆 Goodyear leads 12 of 22 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 ✓ Larger
Goodyear
Arizona
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$97,307 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
48 ✓ Safer
Population
97,542
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Billings, MT
Pros
Rent averages $647/mo less ($1,064 vs $1,711)
Homes cost $111k less ($285,300 vs $396,100)
Commutes run 13 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.9 pts lower (3.6%)
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Goodyear
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 107°F
Cons
Median income trails Goodyear by $27,615/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
Goodyear, AZ
Pros
76% less violent crime than Billings
Households earn $27,615 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (182.2 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 36°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,711/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $396,100
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Billings
Higher unemployment (5.5% vs 3.6%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Billings
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 89.6 vs 101.2 (100 = US avg)
Billings
Median Home Value
$111k less
$285,300 vs $396,100
Billings
Unemployment
1.9 pp lower
3.6% vs 5.5% unemployment
Goodyear
Median Income
$27,615
$97,307 vs $69,692/yr
Goodyear
Violent Crime
76% lower
182.2 vs 746.1 per 100k
Goodyear
Summer Heat
20.1°F warmer
July avg high 107.4°F vs 87.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Billings, MT | Goodyear, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.6 ✓ Cheaper | 101.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $285,300 ✓ Lower | $396,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,064 ✓ Lower | $1,711⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $69,692 | $97,307 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.6% ✓ Lower | 5.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.2 min ✓ Shorter | 29.7 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.7% | 16.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 177⚠ High | 57 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 196⚠ High | 48 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 147⚠ High | 70 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.2% ✓ Higher | 33.7% |
| High School or Higher | 95.7% ✓ Higher | 92.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Elder Grove Elem | Incito Schools (91326) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.0°F | 66.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.3°F | 107.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.3" | 8.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 57.4" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 117,093 ✓ Larger | 97,542 |
| Median Age | 37.7 | 40.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 64.8% | 77.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.7% | 22.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 18.0% | 18.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Billings's cost of living index is 89.6 vs Goodyear's 101.2 (US average = 100).
Billings is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Goodyear leads 12 of 22 categories. Billings wins 10 and Goodyear wins 12. 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 Goodyear or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($285,300 vs $396,100 median home), income ($69,692 vs $97,307), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Billings, MT and Goodyear, AZ are about 889 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.