Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Billings, MT
VS
South Gate, CA
🏆 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
Population
117,093 ✓ Larger
South Gate
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$67,188
Violent Crime Index
138⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
92,381
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Billings, MT
Pros
Homes cost $294k less ($285,300 vs $578,900)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.3 pts lower (3.6%)
26% cheaper overall cost of living than South Gate
Rent averages $336/mo less ($1,064 vs $1,400)
Commutes run 15 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 37.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
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 Gate, CA
Pros
30% less violent crime than Billings
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 36°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 87°F
Smaller class sizes — 17.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $578,900
Cost of living runs 26% higher than Billings
Violent crime (525.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,400/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Billings
Cost of Living
26% cheaper
COL index 89.6 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Billings
Median Income
$2,504
$69,692 vs $67,188/yr
Billings
Median Home Value
$294k less
$285,300 vs $578,900
Billings
Unemployment
4.3 pp lower
3.6% vs 7.9% unemployment
Billings
Summer Heat
5.3°F warmer
July avg high 87.3°F vs 82.0°F
South Gate
Violent Crime
30% lower
525.6 vs 746.1 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Billings, MT | South Gate, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.6 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $285,300 ✓ Lower | $578,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,064 ✓ Lower | $1,400⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $69,692 ✓ Higher | $67,188 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.6% ✓ Lower | 7.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.2 min ✓ Shorter | 32.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.7% ✓ Higher | 6.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 177⚠ High | 152⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 196⚠ High | 138⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 147⚠ High ✓ Safer | 171⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) ✓ Better | C- (72) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.3:1 | 17.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.2% ✓ Higher | 11.5% |
| High School or Higher | 95.7% ✓ Higher | 58.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Elder Grove Elem | Westbrook Academy District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.0°F | 68.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.3°F ✓ Warmer | 82.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.3" | 14.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 57.4" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 117,093 ✓ Larger | 92,381 |
| Median Age | 37.7 ✓ Older | 33.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 64.8% ✓ Higher | 44.8% |
| Under 18 | 22.7% | 24.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 18.0% ✓ More | 11.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Billings's cost of living index is 89.6 vs South Gate's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Billings is 26% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Billings leads 16 of 23 categories. Billings wins 16 and South Gate 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 Gate or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($285,300 vs $578,900 median home), income ($69,692 vs $67,188), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Billings, MT and South Gate, CA are about 963 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.