Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Billings, MT
VS
Rio Rancho, NM
🏆 Rio Rancho 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 ✓ Larger
Rio Rancho
New Mexico
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.0
Median Household Income
$78,978 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
84 ✓ Safer
Population
104,351
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Billings, MT
Pros
Rent averages $293/mo less ($1,064 vs $1,357)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.9 pts lower (3.6%)
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.6)
More college-educated — 37.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 96°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
Median income trails Rio Rancho by $9,286/yr
Snowy winters — about 57" of snow per year
Rio Rancho, NM
Pros
57% less violent crime than Billings
Homes cost $39k less ($246,700 vs $285,300)
Households earn $9,286 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 50°F vs 36°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.0)
Smaller class sizes — 13.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,357/mo
Higher unemployment (5.5% vs 3.6%)
Longer commutes — 28.5 min average each way
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Billings
Key Differences at a Glance
Billings
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 89.6 vs 93.0 (100 = US avg)
Billings
Unemployment
1.9 pp lower
3.6% vs 5.5% unemployment
Rio Rancho
Median Income
$9,286
$78,978 vs $69,692/yr
Rio Rancho
Violent Crime
57% lower
318.2 vs 746.1 per 100k
Rio Rancho
Median Home Value
$39k less
$246,700 vs $285,300
Rio Rancho
Summer Heat
8.2°F warmer
July avg high 95.5°F vs 87.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Billings, MT | Rio Rancho, NM |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.6 ✓ Cheaper | 93.0 |
| Median Home Value | $285,300 | $246,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,064 ✓ Lower | $1,357⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $69,692 | $78,978 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.6% ✓ Lower | 5.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.2 min ✓ Shorter | 28.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.7% | 12.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 177⚠ High | 76 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 196⚠ High | 84 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 147⚠ High | 64 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.3:1 | 13.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.2% ✓ Higher | 33.2% |
| High School or Higher | 95.7% ✓ Higher | 94.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Elder Grove Elem | SANDOVAL ACADEMY OF BILINGUAL EDUCATION |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.0°F | 49.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.3°F | 95.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.3" | 10.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 57.4" | 9.3" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 117,093 ✓ Larger | 104,351 |
| Median Age | 37.7 | 39.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 64.8% | 81.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.7% | 24.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 18.0% ✓ More | 16.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Billings's cost of living index is 89.6 vs Rio Rancho's 93.0 (US average = 100).
Billings is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Rio Rancho leads 15 of 23 categories. Billings wins 8 and Rio Rancho 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 Rio Rancho or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($285,300 vs $246,700 median home), income ($69,692 vs $78,978), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Billings, MT and Rio Rancho, NM are about 732 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.