Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Billings, MT
VS
Renton, WA
🏆 Billings leads 16 of 23 categories
Billings
Montana
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$69,692
Violent Crime Index
196⚠ High
Population
117,093 ✓ Larger
Renton
Washington
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$92,292 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
89 ✓ Safer
Population
105,355
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Billings, MT
Pros
Homes cost $292k less ($285,300 vs $576,800)
Rent averages $800/mo less ($1,064 vs $1,864)
23% cheaper overall cost of living than Renton
Commutes run 14 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (3.6%)
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 Renton by $22,600/yr
Property crime (3083.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 57" of snow per year
Renton, WA
Pros
55% less violent crime than Billings
Households earn $22,600 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 36°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 87°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $576,800
Higher rents — median is $1,864/mo
Cost of living runs 23% higher than Billings
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Key Differences at a Glance
Billings
Cost of Living
23% cheaper
COL index 89.6 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Billings
Median Home Value
$292k less
$285,300 vs $576,800
Billings
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
3.6% vs 4.2% unemployment
Billings
Summer Heat
10.1°F warmer
July avg high 87.3°F vs 77.2°F
Renton
Median Income
$22,600
$92,292 vs $69,692/yr
Renton
Violent Crime
55% lower
339.2 vs 746.1 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Billings, MT | Renton, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.6 ✓ Cheaper | 113.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $285,300 ✓ Lower | $576,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,064 ✓ Lower | $1,864⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $69,692 | $92,292 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.6% ✓ Lower | 4.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.2 min ✓ Shorter | 30.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.7% | 16.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 177⚠ High | 117⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 196⚠ High | 89 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 147⚠ High ✓ Safer | 158⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) ✓ Better | B- (93) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.3:1 | 18.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.2% ✓ Higher | 36.9% |
| High School or Higher | 95.7% ✓ Higher | 89.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Elder Grove Elem | Renton School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.0°F | 48.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.3°F ✓ Warmer | 77.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.3" ✓ Drier | 44.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 57.4" | 6.3" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 117,093 ✓ Larger | 105,355 |
| Median Age | 37.7 ✓ Older | 36.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 64.8% ✓ Higher | 53.6% |
| Under 18 | 22.7% ✓ More | 20.6% |
| Over 65 | 18.0% ✓ More | 12.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Billings's cost of living index is 89.6 vs Renton's 113.0 (US average = 100).
Billings is 23% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Billings leads 16 of 23 categories. Billings wins 16 and Renton wins 7. 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 Renton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($285,300 vs $576,800 median home), income ($69,692 vs $92,292), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Billings, MT and Renton, WA are about 657 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.