Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Billings, MT
VS
Lubbock, TX
🏆 Billings leads 13 of 23 categories
Billings
Montana
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$69,692 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
196⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
117,093
Lubbock
Texas
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.9
Median Household Income
$58,734
Violent Crime Index
216⚠ High
Population
258,190 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Billings, MT
Pros
9% less violent crime than Lubbock
Households earn $10,958 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (3.6%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.6)
More college-educated — 37.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 93°F
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
Lubbock, TX
Pros
Homes cost $104k less ($181,600 vs $285,300)
Milder winters — January highs near 55°F vs 36°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.9)
Smaller class sizes — 13.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (821.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Billings by $10,958/yr
Property crime (2628.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (4.6% vs 3.6%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Billings
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 89.6 vs 90.9 (100 = US avg)
Billings
Median Income
$10,958
$69,692 vs $58,734/yr
Billings
Violent Crime
9% lower
746.1 vs 821.0 per 100k
Billings
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
3.6% vs 4.6% unemployment
Lubbock
Median Home Value
$104k less
$181,600 vs $285,300
Lubbock
Summer Heat
5.4°F warmer
July avg high 92.7°F vs 87.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Billings, MT | Lubbock, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.6 ✓ Cheaper | 90.9 |
| Median Home Value | $285,300 | $181,600 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,064 ✓ Lower | $1,093 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $69,692 ✓ Higher | $58,734 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.6% ✓ Lower | 4.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.2 min | 16.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.7% ✓ Higher | 5.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 177⚠ High ✓ Safer | 180⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 196⚠ High ✓ Safer | 216⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 147⚠ High | 125⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) | B+ (108) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.3:1 | 13.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.2% ✓ Higher | 34.2% |
| High School or Higher | 95.7% ✓ Higher | 88.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Elder Grove Elem | LUBBOCK ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.0°F | 55.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.3°F | 92.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.3" ✓ Drier | 20.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 57.4" | 7.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 117,093 | 258,190 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.7 ✓ Older | 30.0 |
| Homeownership Rate | 64.8% ✓ Higher | 51.0% |
| Under 18 | 22.7% | 22.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 18.0% ✓ More | 12.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Billings's cost of living index is 89.6 vs Lubbock's 90.9 (US average = 100).
Billings is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Billings leads 13 of 23 categories. Billings wins 13 and Lubbock 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 Lubbock or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($285,300 vs $181,600 median home), income ($69,692 vs $58,734), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Billings, MT and Lubbock, TX are about 915 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.