Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Billings, MT
VS
Jersey City, NJ
🏆 Billings leads 12 of 23 categories
Billings
Montana
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$69,692
Violent Crime Index
196⚠ High
Population
117,093
Jersey City
New Jersey
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$91,151 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
148⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
287,899 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Billings, MT
Pros
Homes cost $215k less ($285,300 vs $500,100)
Rent averages $735/mo less ($1,064 vs $1,799)
Commutes run 20 min shorter each way
23% cheaper overall cost of living than Jersey City
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.2 pts lower (3.6%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.6)
Cons
Violent crime (746.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Jersey City by $21,459/yr
Property crime (3083.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 57" of snow per year
Jersey City, NJ
Pros
25% less violent crime than Billings
Households earn $21,459 more per year on average
More college-educated — 51.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 12.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $500,100
Higher rents — median is $1,799/mo
Violent crime (561.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 23% higher than Billings
Key Differences at a Glance
Billings
Cost of Living
23% cheaper
COL index 89.6 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Billings
Median Home Value
$215k less
$285,300 vs $500,100
Billings
Unemployment
2.2 pp lower
3.6% vs 5.8% unemployment
Jersey City
Median Income
$21,459
$91,151 vs $69,692/yr
Jersey City
Violent Crime
25% lower
561.6 vs 746.1 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Billings, MT | Jersey City, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.6 ✓ Cheaper | 112.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $285,300 ✓ Lower | $500,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,064 ✓ Lower | $1,799⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $69,692 | $91,151 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.6% ✓ Lower | 5.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.2 min ✓ Shorter | 37.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.7% | 18.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 177⚠ High | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 196⚠ High | 148⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 147⚠ High | 97 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) | A- (117) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.3:1 | 12.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.2% | 51.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 95.7% ✓ Higher | 90.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Elder Grove Elem | Jersey City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.0°F | 39.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.3°F ✓ Warmer | 86.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.3" ✓ Drier | 50.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 57.4" | 28.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 117,093 | 287,899 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.7 ✓ Older | 34.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 64.8% ✓ Higher | 29.2% |
| Under 18 | 22.7% ✓ More | 20.3% |
| Over 65 | 18.0% ✓ More | 11.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Billings's cost of living index is 89.6 vs Jersey City's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Billings is 23% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Billings leads 12 of 23 categories. Billings wins 12 and Jersey City wins 11. 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 Jersey City or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($285,300 vs $500,100 median home), income ($69,692 vs $91,151), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Billings, MT and Jersey City, NJ are about 1,756 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.