Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Billings, MT
VS
Las Cruces, NM
🏆 Billings leads 12 of 23 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
Las Cruces
New Mexico
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.8
Median Household Income
$51,013
Violent Crime Index
189⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
111,273
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Billings, MT
Pros
Households earn $18,679 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.9 pts lower (3.6%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.6)
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 96°F
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Las Cruces
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
Las Cruces, NM
Pros
Homes cost $88k less ($197,200 vs $285,300)
3% less violent crime than Billings
Rent averages $157/mo less ($907 vs $1,064)
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 36°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.8)
Smaller class sizes — 11.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Billings by $18,679/yr
Violent crime (720.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4873.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.5% vs 3.6%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Billings
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 89.6 vs 93.8 (100 = US avg)
Billings
Median Income
$18,679
$69,692 vs $51,013/yr
Billings
Unemployment
3.9 pp lower
3.6% vs 7.5% unemployment
Las Cruces
Violent Crime
3% lower
720.0 vs 746.1 per 100k
Las Cruces
Median Home Value
$88k less
$197,200 vs $285,300
Las Cruces
Summer Heat
8.3°F warmer
July avg high 95.6°F vs 87.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Billings, MT | Las Cruces, NM |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.6 ✓ Cheaper | 93.8 |
| Median Home Value | $285,300 | $197,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,064 | $907 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $69,692 ✓ Higher | $51,013 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.6% ✓ Lower | 7.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.2 min ✓ Shorter | 19.0 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.7% | 7.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 177⚠ High ✓ Safer | 207⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 196⚠ High | 189⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 147⚠ High ✓ Safer | 232⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) | A- (113) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.3:1 | 11.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.2% ✓ Higher | 36.3% |
| High School or Higher | 95.7% ✓ Higher | 87.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Elder Grove Elem | LAS CRUCES |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.0°F | 58.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.3°F | 95.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.3" | 11.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 57.4" | 1.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 117,093 ✓ Larger | 111,273 |
| Median Age | 37.7 ✓ Older | 31.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 64.8% ✓ Higher | 53.8% |
| Under 18 | 22.7% | 23.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 18.0% ✓ More | 15.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Billings's cost of living index is 89.6 vs Las Cruces's 93.8 (US average = 100).
Billings is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Billings leads 12 of 23 categories. Billings wins 12 and Las Cruces 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 Las Cruces or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($285,300 vs $197,200 median home), income ($69,692 vs $51,013), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Billings, MT and Las Cruces, NM are about 935 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.