Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Billings, MT
VS
Overland Park, KS
🏆 Overland Park leads 15 of 23 categories
Billings
Montana
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$69,692
Violent Crime Index
196⚠ High
Population
117,093
Overland Park
Kansas
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3
Median Household Income
$100,876 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
49 ✓ Safer
Population
196,676 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Billings, MT
Pros
Rent averages $314/mo less ($1,064 vs $1,378)
Homes cost $77k less ($285,300 vs $361,800)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.6)
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Overland Park
Cons
Median income trails Overland Park by $31,184/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
Overland Park, KS
Pros
75% less violent crime than Billings
Households earn $31,184 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (184.4 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 62.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.3)
Smaller class sizes — 13.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,378/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $361,800
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Billings
Key Differences at a Glance
Billings
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 89.6 vs 93.3 (100 = US avg)
Billings
Median Home Value
$77k less
$285,300 vs $361,800
Overland Park
Median Income
$31,184
$100,876 vs $69,692/yr
Overland Park
Violent Crime
75% lower
184.4 vs 746.1 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Billings, MT | Overland Park, KS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.6 ✓ Cheaper | 93.3 |
| Median Home Value | $285,300 ✓ Lower | $361,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,064 ✓ Lower | $1,378⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $69,692 | $100,876 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.6% | 3.2% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.2 min ✓ Shorter | 19.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.7% | 19.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 177⚠ High | 63 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 196⚠ High | 49 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 147⚠ High | 84 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) | A (125) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.3:1 | 13.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.2% | 62.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 95.7% | 97.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Elder Grove Elem | Blue Valley |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.0°F | 38.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.3°F | 88.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.3" ✓ Drier | 40.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 57.4" | 13.8" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 117,093 | 196,676 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.7 | 38.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 64.8% ✓ Higher | 62.4% |
| Under 18 | 22.7% ✓ More | 22.0% |
| Over 65 | 18.0% ✓ More | 16.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Billings's cost of living index is 89.6 vs Overland Park's 93.3 (US average = 100).
Billings is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Overland Park leads 15 of 23 categories. Billings wins 8 and Overland Park wins 15. 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 Overland Park or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($285,300 vs $361,800 median home), income ($69,692 vs $100,876), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Billings, MT and Overland Park, KS are about 852 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.