Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Billings, MT
VS
New Braunfels, TX
🏆 New Braunfels 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 ✓ Larger
New Braunfels
Texas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.7
Median Household Income
$85,827 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
41 ✓ Safer
Population
92,993
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Billings, MT
Pros
Rent averages $362/mo less ($1,064 vs $1,426)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
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 New Braunfels
Cons
Violent crime (746.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails New Braunfels by $16,135/yr
Property crime (3083.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 57" of snow per year
New Braunfels, TX
Pros
79% less violent crime than Billings
Households earn $16,135 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (156.4 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 62°F vs 36°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.7)
Smaller class sizes — 15.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,426/mo
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Billings
Key Differences at a Glance
Billings
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 89.6 vs 93.7 (100 = US avg)
New Braunfels
Median Income
$16,135
$85,827 vs $69,692/yr
New Braunfels
Violent Crime
79% lower
156.4 vs 746.1 per 100k
New Braunfels
Summer Heat
6.1°F warmer
July avg high 93.4°F vs 87.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Billings, MT | New Braunfels, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.6 ✓ Cheaper | 93.7 |
| Median Home Value | $285,300 ✓ Lower | $290,800 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,064 ✓ Lower | $1,426⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $69,692 | $85,827 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.6% ✓ Lower | 3.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.2 min ✓ Shorter | 26.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.7% | 11.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 177⚠ High | 49 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 196⚠ High | 41 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 147⚠ High | 61 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) | B+ (106) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.3:1 | 15.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.2% | 38.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 95.7% ✓ Higher | 91.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Elder Grove Elem | COMAL ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.0°F | 61.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.3°F | 93.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.3" ✓ Drier | 35.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 57.4" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 117,093 ✓ Larger | 92,993 |
| Median Age | 37.7 ✓ Older | 36.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 64.8% ✓ Higher | 63.8% |
| Under 18 | 22.7% | 24.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 18.0% ✓ More | 13.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Billings's cost of living index is 89.6 vs New Braunfels's 93.7 (US average = 100).
Billings is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, New Braunfels leads 12 of 23 categories. Billings wins 11 and New Braunfels 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 New Braunfels or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($285,300 vs $290,800 median home), income ($69,692 vs $85,827), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Billings, MT and New Braunfels, TX are about 1,247 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.