Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Billings, MT
VS
Long Beach, CA
🏆 Billings leads 15 of 23 categories
Billings
Montana
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$69,692
Violent Crime Index
196⚠ High
Population
117,093
Long Beach
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$78,995 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
178⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
462,293 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Billings, MT
Pros
Homes cost $424k less ($285,300 vs $709,700)
Rent averages $634/mo less ($1,064 vs $1,698)
26% cheaper overall cost of living than Long Beach
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.0 pts lower (3.6%)
Commutes run 13 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.6)
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
Median income trails Long Beach by $9,303/yr
Snowy winters — about 57" of snow per year
Long Beach, CA
Pros
9% less violent crime than Billings
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 36°F
Households earn $9,303 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 87°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $709,700
Higher rents — median is $1,698/mo
Cost of living runs 26% higher than Billings
Violent crime (676.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Key Differences at a Glance
Billings
Cost of Living
26% cheaper
COL index 89.6 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Billings
Median Home Value
$424k less
$285,300 vs $709,700
Billings
Unemployment
3.0 pp lower
3.6% vs 6.6% unemployment
Billings
Summer Heat
5.9°F warmer
July avg high 87.3°F vs 81.4°F
Long Beach
Median Income
$9,303
$78,995 vs $69,692/yr
Long Beach
Violent Crime
9% lower
676.4 vs 746.1 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Billings, MT | Long Beach, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.6 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $285,300 ✓ Lower | $709,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,064 ✓ Lower | $1,698⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $69,692 | $78,995 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.6% ✓ Lower | 6.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.2 min ✓ Shorter | 30.4 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.7% | 12.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 177⚠ High | 173⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 196⚠ High | 178⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 147⚠ High ✓ Safer | 166⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) ✓ Better | B- (91) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.2% ✓ Higher | 33.7% |
| High School or Higher | 95.7% ✓ Higher | 81.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Elder Grove Elem | Long Beach Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.0°F | 67.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.3°F ✓ Warmer | 81.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.3" | 12.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 57.4" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 117,093 | 462,293 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.7 ✓ Older | 36.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 64.8% ✓ Higher | 40.6% |
| Under 18 | 22.7% ✓ More | 20.7% |
| Over 65 | 18.0% ✓ More | 12.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Billings's cost of living index is 89.6 vs Long Beach's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Billings is 26% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Billings leads 15 of 23 categories. Billings wins 15 and Long Beach wins 8. 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 Long Beach or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($285,300 vs $709,700 median home), income ($69,692 vs $78,995), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Billings, MT and Long Beach, CA are about 973 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.