Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Billings, MT
VS
Lee's Summit, MO
🏆 Lee's Summit leads 15 of 23 categories
Billings
Montana
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$69,692
Violent Crime Index
196⚠ High
Population
117,093 ✓ Larger
Lee's Summit
Missouri
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3
Median Household Income
$103,447 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
39 ✓ Safer
Population
101,728
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Billings, MT
Pros
Rent averages $231/mo less ($1,064 vs $1,295)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.6)
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Lee's Summit
Cons
Median income trails Lee's Summit by $33,755/yr
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
Lee's Summit, MO
Pros
80% less violent crime than Billings
Households earn $33,755 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (149.4 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 48.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.3)
Smaller class sizes — 14.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Billings
Key Differences at a Glance
Billings
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 89.6 vs 93.3 (100 = US avg)
Lee's Summit
Median Income
$33,755
$103,447 vs $69,692/yr
Lee's Summit
Violent Crime
80% lower
149.4 vs 746.1 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Billings, MT | Lee's Summit, MO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.6 ✓ Cheaper | 93.3 |
| Median Home Value | $285,300 ✓ Lower | $291,400 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,064 ✓ Lower | $1,295 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $69,692 | $103,447 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.6% ✓ Lower | 3.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.2 min ✓ Shorter | 26.1 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.7% | 16.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 177⚠ High | 67 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 196⚠ High | 39 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 147⚠ High | 109⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) | A (118) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.3:1 | 14.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.2% | 48.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 95.7% | 97.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Elder Grove Elem | LEE'S SUMMIT R-VII |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.0°F | 39.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.3°F | 88.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.3" ✓ Drier | 43.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 57.4" | 8.6" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 117,093 ✓ Larger | 101,728 |
| Median Age | 37.7 | 38.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 64.8% | 75.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.7% | 25.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 18.0% ✓ More | 15.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Billings's cost of living index is 89.6 vs Lee's Summit's 93.3 (US average = 100).
Billings is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lee's Summit leads 15 of 23 categories. Billings wins 8 and Lee's Summit wins 15. 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 Lee's Summit or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($285,300 vs $291,400 median home), income ($69,692 vs $103,447), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Billings, MT and Lee's Summit, MO are about 863 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.