Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Billings, MT
VS
Minneapolis, MN
🏆 Billings leads 16 of 23 categories
Billings
Montana
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$69,692
Violent Crime Index
196⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
117,093
Minneapolis
Minnesota
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$76,332 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
305⚠ High
Population
426,877 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Billings, MT
Pros
36% less violent crime than Minneapolis
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.2 pts lower (3.6%)
Rent averages $203/mo less ($1,064 vs $1,267)
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Minneapolis
Homes cost $43k less ($285,300 vs $328,700)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
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 Minneapolis by $6,640/yr
Snowy winters — about 57" of snow per year
Minneapolis, MN
Pros
More college-educated — 53.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $6,640 more per year on average
Smaller class sizes — 11.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (1160.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Billings
Pricier housing — median home is $328,700
Property crime (5142.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Billings
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 89.6 vs 104.5 (100 = US avg)
Billings
Violent Crime
36% lower
746.1 vs 1160.2 per 100k
Billings
Median Home Value
$43k less
$285,300 vs $328,700
Billings
Unemployment
2.2 pp lower
3.6% vs 5.8% unemployment
Billings
Summer Heat
4.2°F warmer
July avg high 87.3°F vs 83.1°F
Minneapolis
Median Income
$6,640
$76,332 vs $69,692/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Billings, MT | Minneapolis, MN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.6 ✓ Cheaper | 104.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $285,300 ✓ Lower | $328,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,064 ✓ Lower | $1,267 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $69,692 | $76,332 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.6% ✓ Lower | 5.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.2 min ✓ Shorter | 22.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.7% | 19.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 177⚠ High ✓ Safer | 281⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 196⚠ High ✓ Safer | 305⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 147⚠ High ✓ Safer | 245⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) | A- (117) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.3:1 | 11.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.2% | 53.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 95.7% ✓ Higher | 90.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Elder Grove Elem | Minneapolis Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.0°F ✓ Warmer | 21.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 87.3°F ✓ Warmer | 83.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.3" ✓ Drier | 33.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 57.4" | 40.4" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 117,093 | 426,877 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.7 ✓ Older | 32.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 64.8% ✓ Higher | 48.1% |
| Under 18 | 22.7% ✓ More | 19.1% |
| Over 65 | 18.0% ✓ More | 10.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Billings's cost of living index is 89.6 vs Minneapolis's 104.5 (US average = 100).
Billings is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Billings leads 16 of 23 categories. Billings wins 16 and Minneapolis wins 7. 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 Minneapolis or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($285,300 vs $328,700 median home), income ($69,692 vs $76,332), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Billings, MT and Minneapolis, MN are about 743 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.