Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Billings, MT
VS
Hillsboro, OR
🏆 Billings leads 13 of 23 categories
Billings
Montana
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$69,692
Violent Crime Index
196⚠ High
Population
117,093 ✓ Larger
Hillsboro
Oregon
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$98,891 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
84 ✓ Safer
Population
106,612
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Billings, MT
Pros
Rent averages $733/mo less ($1,064 vs $1,797)
Homes cost $167k less ($285,300 vs $452,300)
17% cheaper overall cost of living than Hillsboro
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (3.6%)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.6)
Cons
Median income trails Hillsboro by $29,199/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
Hillsboro, OR
Pros
57% less violent crime than Billings
Households earn $29,199 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 47°F vs 36°F
More college-educated — 41.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 87°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,797/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $452,300
Cost of living runs 17% higher than Billings
Higher unemployment (4.6% vs 3.6%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Billings
Cost of Living
17% cheaper
COL index 89.6 vs 106.6 (100 = US avg)
Billings
Median Home Value
$167k less
$285,300 vs $452,300
Billings
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
3.6% vs 4.6% unemployment
Billings
Summer Heat
5.2°F warmer
July avg high 87.3°F vs 82.1°F
Hillsboro
Median Income
$29,199
$98,891 vs $69,692/yr
Hillsboro
Violent Crime
57% lower
317.7 vs 746.1 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Billings, MT | Hillsboro, OR |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.6 ✓ Cheaper | 106.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $285,300 ✓ Lower | $452,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,064 ✓ Lower | $1,797⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $69,692 | $98,891 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.6% ✓ Lower | 4.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.2 min ✓ Shorter | 23.1 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.7% | 17.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 177⚠ High | 96 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 196⚠ High | 84 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 147⚠ High | 116⚠ 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 | 19.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.2% | 41.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 95.7% ✓ Higher | 90.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Elder Grove Elem | Hillsboro SD 1J |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.0°F | 47.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.3°F ✓ Warmer | 82.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.3" ✓ Drier | 35.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 57.4" | 2.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 117,093 ✓ Larger | 106,612 |
| Median Age | 37.7 ✓ Older | 34.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 64.8% ✓ Higher | 50.5% |
| Under 18 | 22.7% ✓ More | 21.8% |
| Over 65 | 18.0% ✓ More | 11.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Billings's cost of living index is 89.6 vs Hillsboro's 106.6 (US average = 100).
Billings is 17% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Billings leads 13 of 23 categories. Billings wins 13 and Hillsboro 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 Hillsboro or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($285,300 vs $452,300 median home), income ($69,692 vs $98,891), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Billings, MT and Hillsboro, OR are about 694 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.