Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Billings, MT
VS
Joliet, IL
🏆 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
Joliet
Illinois
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$84,971 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
92 ✓ Safer
Population
150,221 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Billings, MT
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.6 pts lower (3.6%)
Commutes run 12 min shorter each way
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Joliet
More college-educated — 37.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Rent averages $110/mo less ($1,064 vs $1,174)
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 Joliet by $15,279/yr
Property crime (3083.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 57" of snow per year
Joliet, IL
Pros
53% less violent crime than Billings
Homes cost $52k less ($233,800 vs $285,300)
Households earn $15,279 more per year on average
Smaller class sizes — 14.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Billings
Higher unemployment (6.2% vs 3.6%)
Longer commutes — 29.6 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Billings
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 89.6 vs 102.6 (100 = US avg)
Billings
Unemployment
2.6 pp lower
3.6% vs 6.2% unemployment
Billings
Summer Heat
3.7°F warmer
July avg high 87.3°F vs 83.6°F
Joliet
Median Income
$15,279
$84,971 vs $69,692/yr
Joliet
Violent Crime
53% lower
350.0 vs 746.1 per 100k
Joliet
Median Home Value
$52k less
$233,800 vs $285,300
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Billings, MT | Joliet, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.6 ✓ Cheaper | 102.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $285,300 | $233,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,064 ✓ Lower | $1,174 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $69,692 | $84,971 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.6% ✓ Lower | 6.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.2 min ✓ Shorter | 29.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.7% ✓ Higher | 6.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 177⚠ High | 79 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 196⚠ High | 92 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 147⚠ High | 59 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) ✓ Better | B- (93) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.3:1 | 14.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.2% ✓ Higher | 24.9% |
| High School or Higher | 95.7% ✓ Higher | 84.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Elder Grove Elem | Joliet PSD 86 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.0°F ✓ Warmer | 31.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 87.3°F ✓ Warmer | 83.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.3" ✓ Drier | 40.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 57.4" | 16.9" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 117,093 | 150,221 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.7 ✓ Older | 34.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 64.8% | 72.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.7% | 26.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 18.0% ✓ More | 10.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Billings's cost of living index is 89.6 vs Joliet's 102.6 (US average = 100).
Billings is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Billings leads 13 of 23 categories. Billings wins 13 and Joliet 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 Joliet or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($285,300 vs $233,800 median home), income ($69,692 vs $84,971), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Billings, MT and Joliet, IL are about 1,059 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.