Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Billings, MT
VS
Hampton, VA
🏆 Billings leads 12 of 22 categories
Billings
Montana
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$69,692 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
196⚠ High
Population
117,093
Hampton
Virginia
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4
Median Household Income
$64,430
Violent Crime Index
65 ✓ Safer
Population
137,217 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Billings, MT
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.9 pts lower (3.6%)
Rent averages $191/mo less ($1,064 vs $1,255)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 37.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.6)
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Hampton
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
Hampton, VA
Pros
67% less violent crime than Billings
Homes cost $66k less ($219,800 vs $285,300)
Violent crime is well below the national average (247.6 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 49°F vs 36°F
Smaller class sizes — 13.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Property crime (2882.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.5% vs 3.6%)
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Billings
Median income trails Billings by $5,262/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Billings
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 89.6 vs 97.4 (100 = US avg)
Billings
Median Income
$5,262
$69,692 vs $64,430/yr
Billings
Unemployment
2.9 pp lower
3.6% vs 6.5% unemployment
Hampton
Violent Crime
67% lower
247.6 vs 746.1 per 100k
Hampton
Median Home Value
$66k less
$219,800 vs $285,300
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Billings, MT | Hampton, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.6 ✓ Cheaper | 97.4 |
| Median Home Value | $285,300 | $219,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,064 ✓ Lower | $1,255 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $69,692 ✓ Higher | $64,430 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.6% ✓ Lower | 6.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.2 min ✓ Shorter | 22.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.7% | 7.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 177⚠ High | 94 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 196⚠ High | 65 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 147⚠ High | 137⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) | B (101) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.3:1 | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.2% ✓ Higher | 27.7% |
| High School or Higher | 95.7% ✓ Higher | 92.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Elder Grove Elem | Hampton City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.0°F | 49.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.3°F | 87.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.3" ✓ Drier | 47.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 57.4" | 2.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 117,093 | 137,217 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.7 ✓ Older | 36.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 64.8% ✓ Higher | 55.6% |
| Under 18 | 22.7% ✓ More | 21.3% |
| Over 65 | 18.0% ✓ More | 15.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Billings's cost of living index is 89.6 vs Hampton's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Billings is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Billings leads 12 of 22 categories. Billings wins 12 and Hampton wins 10. 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 Hampton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($285,300 vs $219,800 median home), income ($69,692 vs $64,430), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Billings, MT and Hampton, VA are about 1,763 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.