Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Billings, MT
VS
Nampa, ID
🏆 Nampa leads 12 of 23 categories
Billings
Montana
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$69,692 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
196⚠ High
Population
117,093 ✓ Larger
Nampa
Idaho
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.4
Median Household Income
$67,346
Violent Crime Index
93 ✓ Safer
Population
102,598
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Billings, MT
Pros
More college-educated — 37.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Rent averages $137/mo less ($1,064 vs $1,201)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.6)
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 93°F
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Nampa
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
Nampa, ID
Pros
53% less violent crime than Billings
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (3.0%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.4)
Smaller class sizes — 17.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Billings
Key Differences at a Glance
Billings
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 89.6 vs 93.4 (100 = US avg)
Billings
Median Income
$2,346
$69,692 vs $67,346/yr
Nampa
Violent Crime
53% lower
353.1 vs 746.1 per 100k
Nampa
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
3.0% vs 3.6% unemployment
Nampa
Summer Heat
6.0°F warmer
July avg high 93.3°F vs 87.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Billings, MT | Nampa, ID |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.6 ✓ Cheaper | 93.4 |
| Median Home Value | $285,300 ✓ Lower | $289,400 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,064 ✓ Lower | $1,201 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $69,692 ✓ Higher | $67,346 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.6% | 3.0% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.2 min ✓ Shorter | 23.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.7% | 9.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 177⚠ High | 70 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 196⚠ High | 93 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 147⚠ High | 35 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) ✓ Better | C+ (84) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.3:1 | 17.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.2% ✓ Higher | 21.4% |
| High School or Higher | 95.7% ✓ Higher | 87.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Elder Grove Elem | NAMPA SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.0°F | 39.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.3°F | 93.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.3" | 11.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 57.4" | 9.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 117,093 ✓ Larger | 102,598 |
| Median Age | 37.7 ✓ Older | 33.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 64.8% | 70.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.7% | 25.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 18.0% ✓ More | 14.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Billings's cost of living index is 89.6 vs Nampa's 93.4 (US average = 100).
Billings is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Nampa leads 12 of 23 categories. Billings wins 11 and Nampa 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 Nampa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($285,300 vs $289,400 median home), income ($69,692 vs $67,346), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Billings, MT and Nampa, ID are about 422 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.