Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Billings, MT
VS
Hemet, CA
🏆 Hemet leads 12 of 23 categories
Billings
Montana
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$69,692 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
196⚠ High
Population
117,093 ✓ Larger
Hemet
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$49,901
Violent Crime Index
112⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
89,651
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 5.9 pts lower (3.6%)
Households earn $19,791 more per year on average
Commutes run 20 min shorter each way
Rent averages $293/mo less ($1,064 vs $1,357)
18% cheaper overall cost of living than Hemet
More college-educated — 37.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
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
Hemet, CA
Pros
43% less violent crime than Billings
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 36°F
Cons
Median income trails Billings by $19,791/yr
Higher rents — median is $1,357/mo
Cost of living runs 18% higher than Billings
Higher unemployment (9.5% vs 3.6%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Billings
Cost of Living
18% cheaper
COL index 89.6 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Billings
Median Income
$19,791
$69,692 vs $49,901/yr
Billings
Unemployment
5.9 pp lower
3.6% vs 9.5% unemployment
Hemet
Violent Crime
43% lower
424.8 vs 746.1 per 100k
Hemet
Summer Heat
7.8°F warmer
July avg high 95.1°F vs 87.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Billings, MT | Hemet, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.6 ✓ Cheaper | 107.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $285,300 | $277,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,064 ✓ Lower | $1,357⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $69,692 ✓ Higher | $49,901 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.6% ✓ Lower | 9.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.2 min ✓ Shorter | 36.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.7% | 7.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 177⚠ High | 98 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 196⚠ High | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 147⚠ High | 78 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) ✓ Better | C (78) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.2% ✓ Higher | 13.9% |
| High School or Higher | 95.7% ✓ Higher | 79.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Elder Grove Elem | Hemet Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.0°F | 65.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.3°F | 95.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.3" | 12.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 57.4" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 117,093 ✓ Larger | 89,651 |
| Median Age | 37.7 | 39.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 64.8% ✓ Higher | 61.1% |
| Under 18 | 22.7% | 24.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 18.0% | 22.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Billings's cost of living index is 89.6 vs Hemet's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Billings is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Hemet leads 12 of 23 categories. Billings wins 11 and Hemet 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 Hemet or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($285,300 vs $277,200 median home), income ($69,692 vs $49,901), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Billings, MT and Hemet, CA are about 945 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.