Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Billings, MT
VS
Sparks, NV
🏆 Billings leads 12 of 23 categories
Billings
Montana
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$69,692
Violent Crime Index
196⚠ High
Population
117,093 ✓ Larger
Sparks
Nevada
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$82,938 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
104⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
108,025
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Billings, MT
Pros
Homes cost $138k less ($285,300 vs $423,500)
Rent averages $462/mo less ($1,064 vs $1,526)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.5 pts lower (3.6%)
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Sparks
Commutes run 6 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
Median income trails Sparks by $13,246/yr
Property crime (3083.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 57" of snow per year
Sparks, NV
Pros
47% less violent crime than Billings
Households earn $13,246 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 36°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $423,500
Higher rents — median is $1,526/mo
Cost of living runs 14% higher than Billings
Property crime (2583.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Billings
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 89.6 vs 103.2 (100 = US avg)
Billings
Median Home Value
$138k less
$285,300 vs $423,500
Billings
Unemployment
2.5 pp lower
3.6% vs 6.1% unemployment
Sparks
Median Income
$13,246
$82,938 vs $69,692/yr
Sparks
Violent Crime
47% lower
394.4 vs 746.1 per 100k
Sparks
Summer Heat
4.8°F warmer
July avg high 92.1°F vs 87.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Billings, MT | Sparks, NV |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.6 ✓ Cheaper | 103.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $285,300 ✓ Lower | $423,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,064 ✓ Lower | $1,526⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $69,692 | $82,938 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.6% ✓ Lower | 6.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.2 min ✓ Shorter | 23.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.7% | 7.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 177⚠ High | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 196⚠ High | 104⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 147⚠ High | 123⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.3:1 | 19.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.2% ✓ Higher | 25.4% |
| High School or Higher | 95.7% ✓ Higher | 85.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Elder Grove Elem | Washoe County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.0°F | 48.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.3°F | 92.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.3" | 8.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 57.4" | 6.8" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 117,093 ✓ Larger | 108,025 |
| Median Age | 37.7 ✓ Older | 37.0 |
| Homeownership Rate | 64.8% ✓ Higher | 59.4% |
| Under 18 | 22.7% | 23.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 18.0% ✓ More | 15.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Billings's cost of living index is 89.6 vs Sparks's 103.2 (US average = 100).
Billings is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Billings leads 12 of 23 categories. Billings wins 12 and Sparks wins 11. 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 Sparks or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($285,300 vs $423,500 median home), income ($69,692 vs $82,938), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Billings, MT and Sparks, NV are about 710 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.