Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Billings, MT
VS
Irving, TX
🏆 Irving leads 14 of 23 categories
Billings
Montana
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$69,692
Violent Crime Index
196⚠ High
Population
117,093
Irving
Texas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$76,686 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
72 ✓ Safer
Population
254,962 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Billings, MT
Pros
Rent averages $359/mo less ($1,064 vs $1,423)
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Irving
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.6)
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 96°F
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
Median income trails Irving by $6,994/yr
Snowy winters — about 57" of snow per year
Irving, TX
Pros
63% less violent crime than Billings
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 36°F
Households earn $6,994 more per year on average
Homes cost $26k less ($259,500 vs $285,300)
More college-educated — 40.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 15.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,423/mo
Cost of living runs 14% higher than Billings
Key Differences at a Glance
Billings
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 89.6 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Irving
Median Income
$6,994
$76,686 vs $69,692/yr
Irving
Violent Crime
63% lower
275.4 vs 746.1 per 100k
Irving
Median Home Value
$26k less
$259,500 vs $285,300
Irving
Summer Heat
8.3°F warmer
July avg high 95.6°F vs 87.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Billings, MT | Irving, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.6 ✓ Cheaper | 103.3⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $285,300 | $259,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,064 ✓ Lower | $1,423⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $69,692 | $76,686 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.6% ✓ Lower | 4.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.2 min ✓ Shorter | 23.8 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.7% | 14.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 177⚠ High | 85 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 196⚠ High | 72 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 147⚠ High | 105⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) | B+ (109) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.3:1 | 15.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.2% | 40.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 95.7% ✓ Higher | 79.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Elder Grove Elem | IRVING ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.0°F | 56.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.3°F | 95.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.3" ✓ Drier | 37.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 57.4" | 1.6" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 117,093 | 254,962 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.7 ✓ Older | 32.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 64.8% ✓ Higher | 37.2% |
| Under 18 | 22.7% | 26.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 18.0% ✓ More | 8.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Billings's cost of living index is 89.6 vs Irving's 103.3 (US average = 100).
Billings is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Irving leads 14 of 23 categories. Billings wins 9 and Irving wins 14. 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 Irving or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($285,300 vs $259,500 median home), income ($69,692 vs $76,686), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Billings, MT and Irving, TX are about 1,084 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.