Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Billings, MT
VS
Round Rock, TX
🏆 Round Rock leads 13 of 23 categories
Billings
Montana
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$69,692
Violent Crime Index
196⚠ High
Population
117,093
Round Rock
Texas
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.6
Median Household Income
$91,888 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
34 ✓ Safer
Population
120,465 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Billings, MT
Pros
Rent averages $522/mo less ($1,064 vs $1,586)
Homes cost $52k less ($285,300 vs $337,500)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Round Rock
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.6)
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 96°F
Cons
Violent crime (746.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Round Rock by $22,196/yr
Property crime (3083.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 57" of snow per year
Round Rock, TX
Pros
82% less violent crime than Billings
Households earn $22,196 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (130.7 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 36°F
More college-educated — 42.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 14.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,586/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $337,500
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Billings
Key Differences at a Glance
Billings
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 89.6 vs 97.6 (100 = US avg)
Billings
Median Home Value
$52k less
$285,300 vs $337,500
Round Rock
Median Income
$22,196
$91,888 vs $69,692/yr
Round Rock
Violent Crime
82% lower
130.7 vs 746.1 per 100k
Round Rock
Summer Heat
8.4°F warmer
July avg high 95.7°F vs 87.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Billings, MT | Round Rock, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.6 ✓ Cheaper | 97.6 |
| Median Home Value | $285,300 ✓ Lower | $337,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,064 ✓ Lower | $1,586⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $69,692 | $91,888 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.6% ✓ Lower | 3.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.2 min ✓ Shorter | 25.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.7% | 19.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 177⚠ High | 58 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 196⚠ High | 34 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 147⚠ High | 92 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) | A- (115) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.3:1 | 14.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.2% | 42.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 95.7% ✓ Higher | 93.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Elder Grove Elem | ROUND ROCK ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.0°F | 59.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.3°F | 95.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.3" ✓ Drier | 36.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 57.4" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 117,093 | 120,465 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.7 ✓ Older | 35.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 64.8% ✓ Higher | 55.6% |
| Under 18 | 22.7% | 25.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 18.0% ✓ More | 10.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Billings's cost of living index is 89.6 vs Round Rock's 97.6 (US average = 100).
Billings is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Round Rock leads 13 of 23 categories. Billings wins 10 and Round Rock wins 13. 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 Round Rock or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($285,300 vs $337,500 median home), income ($69,692 vs $91,888), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Billings, MT and Round Rock, TX are about 1,207 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.