Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Billings, MT
VS
Hollywood, FL
🏆 Billings leads 14 of 20 categories
Billings
Montana
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$69,692 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
196⚠ High
Population
117,093
Hollywood
Florida
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$61,958
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
152,764 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Billings, MT
Pros
Rent averages $399/mo less ($1,064 vs $1,463)
22% cheaper overall cost of living than Hollywood
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.5 pts lower (3.6%)
Commutes run 13 min shorter each way
Homes cost $60k less ($285,300 vs $345,300)
Households earn $7,734 more per year on average
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
Hollywood, FL
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 76°F vs 36°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,463/mo
Cost of living runs 22% higher than Billings
Pricier housing — median home is $345,300
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Key Differences at a Glance
Billings
Cost of Living
22% cheaper
COL index 89.6 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
Billings
Median Income
$7,734
$69,692 vs $61,958/yr
Billings
Median Home Value
$60k less
$285,300 vs $345,300
Billings
Unemployment
2.5 pp lower
3.6% vs 6.1% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Billings, MT | Hollywood, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.6 ✓ Cheaper | 111.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $285,300 ✓ Lower | $345,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,064 ✓ Lower | $1,463⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $69,692 ✓ Higher | $61,958 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.6% ✓ Lower | 6.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.2 min ✓ Shorter | 30.4 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.7% | 8.8% ✓ 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) ✓ Better | B- (92) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.2% ✓ Higher | 31.7% |
| High School or Higher | 95.7% ✓ Higher | 88.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Elder Grove Elem | BROWARD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.0°F | 76.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.3°F | 89.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.3" ✓ Drier | 65.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 57.4" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 117,093 | 152,764 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.7 | 41.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 64.8% ✓ Higher | 56.6% |
| Under 18 | 22.7% ✓ More | 19.3% |
| Over 65 | 18.0% ✓ More | 16.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Billings's cost of living index is 89.6 vs Hollywood's 111.8 (US average = 100).
Billings is 22% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Billings leads 14 of 20 categories. Billings wins 14 and Hollywood wins 6. 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 Hollywood or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($285,300 vs $345,300 median home), income ($69,692 vs $61,958), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Billings, MT and Hollywood, FL are about 2,075 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.