Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Billings, MT
VS
Mesa, AZ
🏆 Mesa leads 12 of 23 categories
Billings
Montana
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$69,692
Violent Crime Index
196⚠ High
Population
117,093
Mesa
Arizona
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4
Median Household Income
$73,766 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
127⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
503,390 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Billings, MT
Pros
Rent averages $288/mo less ($1,064 vs $1,352)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (3.6%)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Homes cost $42k less ($285,300 vs $327,700)
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 106°F
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Mesa
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
Median income trails Mesa by $4,074/yr
Mesa, AZ
Pros
35% less violent crime than Billings
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 36°F
Households earn $4,074 more per year on average
Cons
Violent crime (482.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,352/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $327,700
Higher unemployment (4.7% vs 3.6%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Billings
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 89.6 vs 98.4 (100 = US avg)
Billings
Median Home Value
$42k less
$285,300 vs $327,700
Billings
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
3.6% vs 4.7% unemployment
Mesa
Median Income
$4,074
$73,766 vs $69,692/yr
Mesa
Violent Crime
35% lower
482.7 vs 746.1 per 100k
Mesa
Summer Heat
18.6°F warmer
July avg high 105.9°F vs 87.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Billings, MT | Mesa, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.6 ✓ Cheaper | 98.4 |
| Median Home Value | $285,300 ✓ Lower | $327,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,064 ✓ Lower | $1,352⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $69,692 | $73,766 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.6% ✓ Lower | 4.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.2 min ✓ Shorter | 24.8 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.7% | 14.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 177⚠ High | 104⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 196⚠ High | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 147⚠ High | 70 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.3:1 | 18.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.2% ✓ Higher | 30.0% |
| High School or Higher | 95.7% ✓ Higher | 90.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Elder Grove Elem | Mesa Unified District (4235) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.0°F | 67.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.3°F | 105.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.3" | 9.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 57.4" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 117,093 | 503,390 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.7 ✓ Older | 36.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 64.8% ✓ Higher | 63.2% |
| Under 18 | 22.7% | 23.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 18.0% ✓ More | 16.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Billings's cost of living index is 89.6 vs Mesa's 98.4 (US average = 100).
Billings is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Mesa leads 12 of 23 categories. Billings wins 11 and Mesa wins 12. 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 Mesa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($285,300 vs $327,700 median home), income ($69,692 vs $73,766), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Billings, MT and Mesa, AZ are about 872 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.