Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Billings, MT
VS
Stamford, CT
🏆 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
Stamford
Connecticut
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$100,718 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
41 ✓ Safer
Population
135,413 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Billings, MT
Pros
Homes cost $299k less ($285,300 vs $584,700)
Rent averages $1065/mo less ($1,064 vs $2,129)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.9 pts lower (3.6%)
17% cheaper overall cost of living than Stamford
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.6)
Cons
Median income trails Stamford by $31,026/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
Stamford, CT
Pros
79% less violent crime than Billings
Households earn $31,026 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (157.5 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 50.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 12.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $584,700
Higher rents — median is $2,129/mo
Cost of living runs 17% higher than Billings
Higher unemployment (5.5% vs 3.6%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Billings
Cost of Living
17% cheaper
COL index 89.6 vs 106.5 (100 = US avg)
Billings
Median Home Value
$299k less
$285,300 vs $584,700
Billings
Unemployment
1.9 pp lower
3.6% vs 5.5% unemployment
Stamford
Median Income
$31,026
$100,718 vs $69,692/yr
Stamford
Violent Crime
79% lower
157.5 vs 746.1 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Billings, MT | Stamford, CT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.6 ✓ Cheaper | 106.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $285,300 ✓ Lower | $584,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,064 ✓ Lower | $2,129⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $69,692 | $100,718 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.6% ✓ Lower | 5.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.2 min ✓ Shorter | 27.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.7% | 14.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 177⚠ High | 48 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 196⚠ High | 41 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 147⚠ High | 58 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) | A (120) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.3:1 | 12.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.2% | 50.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 95.7% ✓ Higher | 88.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Elder Grove Elem | Stamford School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.0°F | 38.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.3°F ✓ Warmer | 84.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.3" ✓ Drier | 50.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 57.4" | 34.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 117,093 | 135,413 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.7 ✓ Older | 37.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 64.8% ✓ Higher | 46.0% |
| Under 18 | 22.7% ✓ More | 19.2% |
| Over 65 | 18.0% ✓ More | 15.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Billings's cost of living index is 89.6 vs Stamford's 106.5 (US average = 100).
Billings is 17% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Billings leads 12 of 23 categories. Billings wins 12 and Stamford 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 Stamford or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($285,300 vs $584,700 median home), income ($69,692 vs $100,718), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Billings, MT and Stamford, CT are about 1,772 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.