Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Billings, MT
VS
Phoenix, AZ
🏆 Phoenix 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 ✓ Safer
Population
117,093
Phoenix
Arizona
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4
Median Household Income
$72,092 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
210⚠ High
Population
1,609,456 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Billings, MT
Pros
7% less violent crime than Phoenix
Rent averages $258/mo less ($1,064 vs $1,322)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (3.6%)
Homes cost $55k less ($285,300 vs $340,200)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 104°F
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
Phoenix, AZ
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 36°F
Smaller class sizes — 15.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (799.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $340,200
Higher unemployment (5.2% vs 3.6%)
Cost of living runs 9% higher than Billings
Key Differences at a Glance
Billings
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 89.6 vs 98.4 (100 = US avg)
Billings
Violent Crime
7% lower
746.1 vs 799.6 per 100k
Billings
Median Home Value
$55k less
$285,300 vs $340,200
Billings
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
3.6% vs 5.2% unemployment
Phoenix
Median Income
$2,400
$72,092 vs $69,692/yr
Phoenix
Summer Heat
16.7°F warmer
July avg high 104.0°F vs 87.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Billings, MT | Phoenix, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.6 ✓ Cheaper | 98.4 |
| Median Home Value | $285,300 ✓ Lower | $340,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,064 ✓ Lower | $1,322 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $69,692 | $72,092 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.6% ✓ Lower | 5.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.2 min ✓ Shorter | 25.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.7% | 14.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 177⚠ High | 171⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 196⚠ High ✓ Safer | 210⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 147⚠ High | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) | B (98) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.3:1 | 15.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.2% ✓ Higher | 31.2% |
| High School or Higher | 95.7% ✓ Higher | 83.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Elder Grove Elem | Paradise Valley Unified District (4241) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.0°F | 65.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.3°F | 104.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.3" | 8.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 57.4" | 0.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 117,093 | 1,609,456 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.7 ✓ Older | 34.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 64.8% ✓ Higher | 56.4% |
| Under 18 | 22.7% | 24.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 18.0% ✓ More | 11.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Billings's cost of living index is 89.6 vs Phoenix's 98.4 (US average = 100).
Billings is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Phoenix leads 12 of 23 categories. Billings wins 11 and Phoenix 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 Phoenix or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($285,300 vs $340,200 median home), income ($69,692 vs $72,092), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Billings, MT and Phoenix, AZ are about 865 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.