Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Billings, MT
VS
McKinney, TX
🏆 McKinney leads 14 of 23 categories
Billings
Montana
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$69,692
Violent Crime Index
196⚠ High
Population
117,093
McKinney
Texas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$113,286 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
31 ✓ Safer
Population
196,160 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Billings, MT
Pros
Rent averages $676/mo less ($1,064 vs $1,740)
Homes cost $115k less ($285,300 vs $400,400)
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
14% cheaper overall cost of living than McKinney
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.6)
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 94°F
Cons
Median income trails McKinney by $43,594/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
McKinney, TX
Pros
84% less violent crime than Billings
Households earn $43,594 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (117.3 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 52.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 36°F
Smaller class sizes — 14.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,740/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $400,400
Cost of living runs 14% higher than Billings
Longer commutes — 28.3 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Billings
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 89.6 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Billings
Median Home Value
$115k less
$285,300 vs $400,400
McKinney
Median Income
$43,594
$113,286 vs $69,692/yr
McKinney
Violent Crime
84% lower
117.3 vs 746.1 per 100k
McKinney
Summer Heat
6.9°F warmer
July avg high 94.2°F vs 87.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Billings, MT | McKinney, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.6 ✓ Cheaper | 103.3⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $285,300 ✓ Lower | $400,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,064 ✓ Lower | $1,740⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $69,692 | $113,286 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.6% ✓ Lower | 3.7% |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.2 min ✓ Shorter | 28.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.7% | 18.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 177⚠ High | 34 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 196⚠ High | 31 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 147⚠ High | 39 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) | A+ (130) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.3:1 | 14.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.2% | 52.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 95.7% ✓ Higher | 94.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Elder Grove Elem | MCKINNEY ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.0°F | 56.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.3°F | 94.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.3" ✓ Drier | 42.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 57.4" | 2.6" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 117,093 | 196,160 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.7 ✓ Older | 36.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 64.8% | 64.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.7% | 27.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 18.0% ✓ More | 10.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Billings's cost of living index is 89.6 vs McKinney's 103.3 (US average = 100).
Billings is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, McKinney leads 14 of 23 categories. Billings wins 9 and McKinney wins 14. 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 McKinney or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($285,300 vs $400,400 median home), income ($69,692 vs $113,286), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Billings, MT and McKinney, TX are about 1,074 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.