Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Billings, MT
VS
Norwalk, CT
🏆 Billings leads 12 of 23 categories
Billings
Montana
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$69,692
Violent Crime Index
196⚠ High
Population
117,093 ✓ Larger
Norwalk
Connecticut
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$97,879 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
22 ✓ Safer
Population
91,050
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Billings, MT
Pros
Rent averages $797/mo less ($1,064 vs $1,861)
Homes cost $207k less ($285,300 vs $491,800)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.3 pts lower (3.6%)
17% cheaper overall cost of living than Norwalk
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.6)
Cons
Median income trails Norwalk by $28,187/yr
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
Norwalk, CT
Pros
89% less violent crime than Billings
Households earn $28,187 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (85.0 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 42.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 12.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,861/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $491,800
Cost of living runs 17% higher than Billings
Higher unemployment (5.9% vs 3.6%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Billings
Cost of Living
17% cheaper
COL index 89.6 vs 106.5 (100 = US avg)
Billings
Median Home Value
$207k less
$285,300 vs $491,800
Billings
Unemployment
2.3 pp lower
3.6% vs 5.9% unemployment
Norwalk
Median Income
$28,187
$97,879 vs $69,692/yr
Norwalk
Violent Crime
89% lower
85.0 vs 746.1 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Billings, MT | Norwalk, CT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.6 ✓ Cheaper | 106.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $285,300 ✓ Lower | $491,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,064 ✓ Lower | $1,861⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $69,692 | $97,879 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.6% ✓ Lower | 5.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.2 min ✓ Shorter | 27.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.7% | 11.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 177⚠ High | 42 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 196⚠ High | 22 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 147⚠ High | 72 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) | A- (113) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.3:1 | 12.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.2% | 42.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 95.7% ✓ Higher | 88.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Elder Grove Elem | Norwalk School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.0°F | 38.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.3°F ✓ Warmer | 84.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.3" ✓ Drier | 51.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 57.4" | 34.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 117,093 ✓ Larger | 91,050 |
| Median Age | 37.7 | 40.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 64.8% ✓ Higher | 54.8% |
| Under 18 | 22.7% ✓ More | 19.4% |
| Over 65 | 18.0% ✓ More | 15.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Billings's cost of living index is 89.6 vs Norwalk's 106.5 (US average = 100).
Billings is 17% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Billings leads 12 of 23 categories. Billings wins 12 and Norwalk wins 11. 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 Norwalk or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($285,300 vs $491,800 median home), income ($69,692 vs $97,879), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Billings, MT and Norwalk, CT are about 1,777 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.