Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Billings, MT
VS
Norfolk, VA
🏆 Billings leads 13 of 23 categories
Billings
Montana
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$69,692 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
196⚠ High
Population
117,093
Norfolk
Virginia
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4
Median Household Income
$60,998
Violent Crime Index
124⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
236,973 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Billings, MT
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.1 pts lower (3.6%)
Households earn $8,694 more per year on average
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Rent averages $124/mo less ($1,064 vs $1,188)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.6)
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Norfolk
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
Norfolk, VA
Pros
37% less violent crime than Billings
Homes cost $31k less ($254,200 vs $285,300)
Milder winters — January highs near 50°F vs 36°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (469.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Billings by $8,694/yr
Property crime (3772.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.7% vs 3.6%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Billings
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 89.6 vs 97.4 (100 = US avg)
Billings
Median Income
$8,694
$69,692 vs $60,998/yr
Billings
Unemployment
3.1 pp lower
3.6% vs 6.7% unemployment
Norfolk
Violent Crime
37% lower
469.5 vs 746.1 per 100k
Norfolk
Median Home Value
$31k less
$254,200 vs $285,300
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Billings, MT | Norfolk, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.6 ✓ Cheaper | 97.4 |
| Median Home Value | $285,300 | $254,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,064 ✓ Lower | $1,188 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $69,692 ✓ Higher | $60,998 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.6% ✓ Lower | 6.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.2 min ✓ Shorter | 22.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.7% | 7.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 177⚠ High | 146⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 196⚠ High | 124⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 147⚠ High ✓ Safer | 180⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) | B (103) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.3:1 | 12.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.2% ✓ Higher | 32.2% |
| High School or Higher | 95.7% ✓ Higher | 89.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Elder Grove Elem | Norfolk City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.0°F | 50.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.3°F | 88.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.3" ✓ Drier | 45.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 57.4" | 3.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 117,093 | 236,973 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.7 ✓ Older | 32.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 64.8% ✓ Higher | 44.8% |
| Under 18 | 22.7% ✓ More | 20.3% |
| Over 65 | 18.0% ✓ More | 12.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Billings's cost of living index is 89.6 vs Norfolk's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Billings is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Billings leads 13 of 23 categories. Billings wins 13 and Norfolk wins 10. 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 Norfolk or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($285,300 vs $254,200 median home), income ($69,692 vs $60,998), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Billings, MT and Norfolk, VA are about 1,770 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.