Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Billings, MT
VS
Quincy, MA
🏆 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
Quincy
Massachusetts
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$90,668 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
88 ✓ Safer
Population
100,981
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Billings, MT
Pros
Homes cost $278k less ($285,300 vs $563,200)
Rent averages $837/mo less ($1,064 vs $1,901)
Commutes run 17 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.1 pts lower (3.6%)
22% cheaper overall cost of living than Quincy
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 Quincy by $20,976/yr
Property crime (3083.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 57" of snow per year
Quincy, MA
Pros
55% less violent crime than Billings
Households earn $20,976 more per year on average
More college-educated — 46.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 13.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $563,200
Higher rents — median is $1,901/mo
Cost of living runs 22% higher than Billings
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.6)
Key Differences at a Glance
Billings
Cost of Living
22% cheaper
COL index 89.6 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Billings
Median Home Value
$278k less
$285,300 vs $563,200
Billings
Unemployment
3.1 pp lower
3.6% vs 6.7% unemployment
Billings
Summer Heat
4.3°F warmer
July avg high 87.3°F vs 83.0°F
Quincy
Median Income
$20,976
$90,668 vs $69,692/yr
Quincy
Violent Crime
55% lower
335.1 vs 746.1 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Billings, MT | Quincy, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.6 ✓ Cheaper | 111.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $285,300 ✓ Lower | $563,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,064 ✓ Lower | $1,901⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $69,692 | $90,668 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.6% ✓ Lower | 6.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.2 min ✓ Shorter | 33.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.7% | 15.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 177⚠ High | 78 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 196⚠ High | 88 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 147⚠ High | 63 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) | A (119) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.3:1 | 13.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.2% | 46.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 95.7% ✓ Higher | 89.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Elder Grove Elem | Quincy |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.0°F | 37.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.3°F ✓ Warmer | 83.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.3" ✓ Drier | 52.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 57.4" | 50.9" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 117,093 ✓ Larger | 100,981 |
| Median Age | 37.7 | 38.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 64.8% ✓ Higher | 43.9% |
| Under 18 | 22.7% ✓ More | 15.0% |
| Over 65 | 18.0% ✓ More | 16.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Billings's cost of living index is 89.6 vs Quincy's 111.6 (US average = 100).
Billings is 22% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Billings leads 12 of 23 categories. Billings wins 12 and Quincy 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 Quincy or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($285,300 vs $563,200 median home), income ($69,692 vs $90,668), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Billings, MT and Quincy, MA are about 1,864 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.