Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Billings, MT
VS
Lakeland, FL
🏆 Billings leads 12 of 22 categories
Billings
Montana
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$69,692 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
196⚠ High
Population
117,093 ✓ Larger
Lakeland
Florida
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.7⚠ High
Median Household Income
$58,290
Violent Crime Index
15 ✓ Safer
Population
114,404
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 1.8 pts lower (3.6%)
Households earn $11,402 more per year on average
Rent averages $153/mo less ($1,064 vs $1,217)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Lakeland
More college-educated — 37.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
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
Lakeland, FL
Pros
92% less violent crime than Billings
Homes cost $78k less ($207,800 vs $285,300)
Violent crime is well below the national average (56.0 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 74°F vs 36°F
Cons
Median income trails Billings by $11,402/yr
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Billings
Higher unemployment (5.4% vs 3.6%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Billings
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 89.6 vs 100.7 (100 = US avg)
Billings
Median Income
$11,402
$69,692 vs $58,290/yr
Billings
Unemployment
1.8 pp lower
3.6% vs 5.4% unemployment
Lakeland
Violent Crime
92% lower
56.0 vs 746.1 per 100k
Lakeland
Median Home Value
$78k less
$207,800 vs $285,300
Lakeland
Summer Heat
4.8°F warmer
July avg high 92.1°F vs 87.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Billings, MT | Lakeland, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.6 ✓ Cheaper | 100.7⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $285,300 | $207,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,064 ✓ Lower | $1,217 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $69,692 ✓ Higher | $58,290 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.6% ✓ Lower | 5.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.2 min ✓ Shorter | 23.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.7% | 8.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 177⚠ High | 15 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 196⚠ High | 15 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 147⚠ High | 17 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) ✓ Better | C+ (89) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.3:1 | 19.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.2% ✓ Higher | 26.7% |
| High School or Higher | 95.7% ✓ Higher | 90.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Elder Grove Elem | POLK |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.0°F | 73.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.3°F | 92.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.3" ✓ Drier | 52.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 57.4" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 117,093 ✓ Larger | 114,404 |
| Median Age | 37.7 | 40.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 64.8% ✓ Higher | 54.8% |
| Under 18 | 22.7% ✓ More | 18.8% |
| Over 65 | 18.0% | 21.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Billings's cost of living index is 89.6 vs Lakeland's 100.7 (US average = 100).
Billings is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Billings leads 12 of 22 categories. Billings wins 12 and Lakeland 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 Lakeland or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($285,300 vs $207,800 median home), income ($69,692 vs $58,290), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Billings, MT and Lakeland, FL are about 1,897 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.