Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Billings, MT
VS
Knoxville, TN
🏆 It's a dead heat — 11 categories each
Billings
Montana
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$69,692 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
196⚠ High
Population
117,093
Knoxville
Tennessee
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.8
Median Household Income
$48,309
Violent Crime Index
195⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
191,857 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Billings, MT
Pros
Households earn $21,383 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (3.6%)
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.6)
More college-educated — 37.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Knoxville
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
Knoxville, TN
Pros
Homes cost $101k less ($184,200 vs $285,300)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.8)
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 36°F
Cons
Median income trails Billings by $21,383/yr
Violent crime (740.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2721.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (4.8% vs 3.6%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Billings
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 89.6 vs 92.8 (100 = US avg)
Billings
Median Income
$21,383
$69,692 vs $48,309/yr
Billings
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
3.6% vs 4.8% unemployment
Knoxville
Median Home Value
$101k less
$184,200 vs $285,300
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Billings, MT | Knoxville, TN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.6 ✓ Cheaper | 92.8 |
| Median Home Value | $285,300 | $184,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,064 | $1,043 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $69,692 ✓ Higher | $48,309 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.6% ✓ Lower | 4.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.2 min ✓ Shorter | 20.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.7% | 9.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 177⚠ High | 169⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 196⚠ High | 195⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 147⚠ High | 130⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) | B (103) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.3:1 | — |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.2% ✓ Higher | 33.1% |
| High School or Higher | 95.7% ✓ Higher | 90.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Elder Grove Elem | Knox County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.0°F | 47.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.3°F | 88.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.3" ✓ Drier | 55.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 57.4" | 4.6" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 117,093 | 191,857 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.7 ✓ Older | 33.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 64.8% ✓ Higher | 46.2% |
| Under 18 | 22.7% ✓ More | 18.2% |
| Over 65 | 18.0% ✓ More | 14.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Billings's cost of living index is 89.6 vs Knoxville's 92.8 (US average = 100).
Billings is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. Billings wins 11 and Knoxville 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 Knoxville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($285,300 vs $184,200 median home), income ($69,692 vs $48,309), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Billings, MT and Knoxville, TN are about 1,445 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.