Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Billings, MT
VS
Portland, OR
🏆 Billings leads 13 of 23 categories
Billings
Montana
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$69,692
Violent Crime Index
196⚠ High
Population
117,093
Portland
Oregon
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$85,876 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
190⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
646,101 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Billings, MT
Pros
Homes cost $238k less ($285,300 vs $523,100)
Rent averages $466/mo less ($1,064 vs $1,530)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.0 pts lower (3.6%)
17% cheaper overall cost of living than Portland
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.6)
Cons
Violent crime (746.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Portland by $16,184/yr
Property crime (3083.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 57" of snow per year
Portland, OR
Pros
3% less violent crime than Billings
Households earn $16,184 more per year on average
More college-educated — 52.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 47°F vs 36°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 80°F vs 87°F
Smaller class sizes — 16.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $523,100
Higher rents — median is $1,530/mo
Violent crime (720.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 17% higher than Billings
Key Differences at a Glance
Billings
Cost of Living
17% cheaper
COL index 89.6 vs 106.6 (100 = US avg)
Billings
Median Home Value
$238k less
$285,300 vs $523,100
Billings
Unemployment
2.0 pp lower
3.6% vs 5.6% unemployment
Billings
Summer Heat
7.0°F warmer
July avg high 87.3°F vs 80.3°F
Portland
Median Income
$16,184
$85,876 vs $69,692/yr
Portland
Violent Crime
3% lower
720.1 vs 746.1 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Billings, MT | Portland, OR |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.6 ✓ Cheaper | 106.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $285,300 ✓ Lower | $523,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,064 ✓ Lower | $1,530⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $69,692 | $85,876 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.6% ✓ Lower | 5.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.2 min ✓ Shorter | 24.8 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.7% | 22.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 177⚠ High ✓ Safer | 219⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 196⚠ High | 190⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 147⚠ High ✓ Safer | 263⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) | A- (112) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.3:1 | 16.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.2% | 52.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 95.7% ✓ Higher | 93.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Elder Grove Elem | Portland SD 1J |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.0°F | 46.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.3°F ✓ Warmer | 80.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.3" ✓ Drier | 44.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 57.4" | 3.6" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 117,093 | 646,101 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.7 | 38.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 64.8% ✓ Higher | 53.3% |
| Under 18 | 22.7% ✓ More | 16.8% |
| Over 65 | 18.0% ✓ More | 14.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Billings's cost of living index is 89.6 vs Portland's 106.6 (US average = 100).
Billings is 17% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Billings leads 13 of 23 categories. Billings wins 13 and Portland 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 Portland or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($285,300 vs $523,100 median home), income ($69,692 vs $85,876), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Billings, MT and Portland, OR are about 680 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.