Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Billings, MT
VS
Irvine, CA
🏆 Irvine leads 12 of 23 categories
Billings
Montana
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$69,692
Violent Crime Index
196⚠ High
Population
117,093
Irvine
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$122,948 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
22 ✓ Safer
Population
304,527 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Billings, MT
Pros
Homes cost $740k less ($285,300 vs $1,025,700)
Rent averages $1685/mo less ($1,064 vs $2,749)
26% cheaper overall cost of living than Irvine
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.9 pts lower (3.6%)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.6)
Cons
Median income trails Irvine by $53,256/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
Irvine, CA
Pros
Households earn $53,256 more per year on average
89% less violent crime than Billings
More college-educated — 70.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (84.0 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 36°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,025,700
Higher rents — median is $2,749/mo
Cost of living runs 26% higher than Billings
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Billings
Cost of Living
26% cheaper
COL index 89.6 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Billings
Median Home Value
$740k less
$285,300 vs $1,025,700
Billings
Unemployment
1.9 pp lower
3.6% vs 5.5% unemployment
Irvine
Median Income
$53,256
$122,948 vs $69,692/yr
Irvine
Violent Crime
89% lower
84.0 vs 746.1 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Billings, MT | Irvine, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.6 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $285,300 ✓ Lower | $1,025,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,064 ✓ Lower | $2,749⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $69,692 | $122,948 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.6% ✓ Lower | 5.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.2 min ✓ Shorter | 24.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.7% | 23.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 177⚠ High | 40 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 196⚠ High | 22 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 147⚠ High | 66 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 26.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.2% | 70.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 95.7% | 96.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Elder Grove Elem | Irvine Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.0°F | 67.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.3°F ✓ Warmer | 85.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.3" | 14.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 57.4" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 117,093 | 304,527 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.7 ✓ Older | 33.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 64.8% ✓ Higher | 43.9% |
| Under 18 | 22.7% ✓ More | 21.8% |
| Over 65 | 18.0% ✓ More | 10.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Billings's cost of living index is 89.6 vs Irvine's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Billings is 26% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Irvine leads 12 of 23 categories. Billings wins 11 and Irvine 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 Irvine or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($285,300 vs $1,025,700 median home), income ($69,692 vs $122,948), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Billings, MT and Irvine, CA are about 968 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.