Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Billings, MT
VS
Sandy Springs, GA
🏆 Sandy Springs leads 12 of 23 categories
Billings
Montana
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$69,692
Violent Crime Index
196⚠ High
Population
117,093 ✓ Larger
Sandy Springs
Georgia
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$93,303 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
37 ✓ Safer
Population
107,221
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Billings, MT
Pros
Homes cost $271k less ($285,300 vs $556,300)
Rent averages $606/mo less ($1,064 vs $1,670)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Sandy Springs
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.6)
Cons
Median income trails Sandy Springs by $23,611/yr
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
Snowy winters — about 57" of snow per year
Sandy Springs, GA
Pros
81% less violent crime than Billings
Households earn $23,611 more per year on average
More college-educated — 68.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (139.2 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 52°F vs 36°F
Smaller class sizes — 14.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $556,300
Higher rents — median is $1,670/mo
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Billings
Key Differences at a Glance
Billings
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 89.6 vs 100.9 (100 = US avg)
Billings
Median Home Value
$271k less
$285,300 vs $556,300
Sandy Springs
Median Income
$23,611
$93,303 vs $69,692/yr
Sandy Springs
Violent Crime
81% lower
139.2 vs 746.1 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Billings, MT | Sandy Springs, GA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.6 ✓ Cheaper | 100.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $285,300 ✓ Lower | $556,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,064 ✓ Lower | $1,670⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $69,692 | $93,303 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.6% ✓ Lower | 3.7% |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.2 min ✓ Shorter | 26.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.7% | 24.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 177⚠ High | 50 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 196⚠ High | 37 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 147⚠ High | 70 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) | A- (117) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.3:1 | 14.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.2% | 68.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 95.7% | 97.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Elder Grove Elem | Fulton County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.0°F | 51.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.3°F | 89.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.3" ✓ Drier | 53.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 57.4" | 0.5" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 117,093 ✓ Larger | 107,221 |
| Median Age | 37.7 ✓ Older | 37.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 64.8% ✓ Higher | 50.5% |
| Under 18 | 22.7% ✓ More | 18.8% |
| Over 65 | 18.0% ✓ More | 14.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Billings's cost of living index is 89.6 vs Sandy Springs's 100.9 (US average = 100).
Billings is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Sandy Springs leads 12 of 23 categories. Billings wins 11 and Sandy Springs wins 12. 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 Sandy Springs or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($285,300 vs $556,300 median home), income ($69,692 vs $93,303), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Billings, MT and Sandy Springs, GA are about 1,513 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.