Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Billings, MT
VS
South Bend, IN
🏆 Billings leads 16 of 23 categories
Billings
Montana
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$69,692 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
196⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
117,093 ✓ Larger
South Bend
Indiana
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.4
Median Household Income
$49,056
Violent Crime Index
254⚠ High
Population
103,084
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Billings, MT
Pros
Households earn $20,636 more per year on average
23% less violent crime than South Bend
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.9 pts lower (3.6%)
More college-educated — 37.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.6)
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
Snowy winters — about 57" of snow per year
South Bend, IN
Pros
Homes cost $172k less ($113,800 vs $285,300)
Rent averages $129/mo less ($935 vs $1,064)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.4)
Smaller class sizes — 12.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Billings by $20,636/yr
Violent crime (965.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (5.5% vs 3.6%)
Snowy winters — about 65" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Billings
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 89.6 vs 91.4 (100 = US avg)
Billings
Median Income
$20,636
$69,692 vs $49,056/yr
Billings
Violent Crime
23% lower
746.1 vs 965.0 per 100k
Billings
Unemployment
1.9 pp lower
3.6% vs 5.5% unemployment
Billings
Summer Heat
4.3°F warmer
July avg high 87.3°F vs 83.0°F
South Bend
Median Home Value
$172k less
$113,800 vs $285,300
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Billings, MT | South Bend, IN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.6 ✓ Cheaper | 91.4 |
| Median Home Value | $285,300 | $113,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,064 | $935 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $69,692 ✓ Higher | $49,056 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.6% ✓ Lower | 5.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.2 min ✓ Shorter | 20.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.7% | 8.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 177⚠ High ✓ Safer | 191⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 196⚠ High ✓ Safer | 254⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 147⚠ High | 97 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) | B (99) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.3:1 | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.2% ✓ Higher | 28.8% |
| High School or Higher | 95.7% ✓ Higher | 87.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Elder Grove Elem | South Bend Community School Corp |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.0°F ✓ Warmer | 31.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 87.3°F ✓ Warmer | 83.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.3" ✓ Drier | 40.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 57.4" ✓ Less | 64.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 117,093 ✓ Larger | 103,084 |
| Median Age | 37.7 ✓ Older | 33.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 64.8% ✓ Higher | 58.5% |
| Under 18 | 22.7% | 26.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 18.0% ✓ More | 13.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Billings's cost of living index is 89.6 vs South Bend's 91.4 (US average = 100).
Billings is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Billings leads 16 of 23 categories. Billings wins 16 and South Bend 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 South Bend or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($285,300 vs $113,800 median home), income ($69,692 vs $49,056), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Billings, MT and South Bend, IN are about 1,144 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.