Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Billings, MT
VS
Omaha, NE
🏆 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
Omaha
Nebraska
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.5
Median Household Income
$70,202 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
97 ✓ Safer
Population
489,201 ✓ 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 0.6 pts lower (3.6%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.6)
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Omaha
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
Omaha, NE
Pros
51% less violent crime than Billings
Homes cost $75k less ($210,300 vs $285,300)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.5)
Smaller class sizes — 16.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Property crime (3161.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Billings
Key Differences at a Glance
Billings
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 89.6 vs 92.5 (100 = US avg)
Billings
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
3.6% vs 4.2% unemployment
Omaha
Median Income
$510
$70,202 vs $69,692/yr
Omaha
Violent Crime
51% lower
369.0 vs 746.1 per 100k
Omaha
Median Home Value
$75k less
$210,300 vs $285,300
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Billings, MT | Omaha, NE |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.6 ✓ Cheaper | 92.5 |
| Median Home Value | $285,300 | $210,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,064 ✓ Lower | $1,099 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $69,692 | $70,202 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.6% ✓ Lower | 4.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.2 min ✓ Shorter | 19.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.7% | 11.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 177⚠ High | 118⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 196⚠ High | 97 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 147⚠ High ✓ Safer | 151⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) | B- (95) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.3:1 | 16.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.2% | 39.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 95.7% ✓ Higher | 90.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Elder Grove Elem | OMAHA PUBLIC SCHOOLS |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.0°F ✓ Warmer | 32.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 87.3°F ✓ Warmer | 85.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.3" ✓ Drier | 33.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 57.4" | 27.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 117,093 | 489,201 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.7 ✓ Older | 35.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 64.8% ✓ Higher | 57.9% |
| Under 18 | 22.7% | 24.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 18.0% ✓ More | 13.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Billings's cost of living index is 89.6 vs Omaha's 92.5 (US average = 100).
Billings is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Billings leads 12 of 23 categories. Billings wins 12 and Omaha 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 Omaha or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($285,300 vs $210,300 median home), income ($69,692 vs $70,202), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Billings, MT and Omaha, NE are about 699 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.