Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Billings, MT
VS
Tyler, TX
🏆 Billings leads 13 of 23 categories
Billings
Montana
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$69,692 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
196⚠ High
Population
117,093 ✓ Larger
Tyler
Texas
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.4
Median Household Income
$63,056
Violent Crime Index
103⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
106,440
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Billings, MT
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.7 pts lower (3.6%)
Households earn $6,636 more per year on average
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 37.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.6)
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 93°F
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
Tyler, TX
Pros
48% less violent crime than Billings
Homes cost $80k less ($205,200 vs $285,300)
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 36°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.4)
Smaller class sizes — 15.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Higher unemployment (5.3% vs 3.6%)
Median income trails Billings by $6,636/yr
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Billings
Key Differences at a Glance
Billings
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 89.6 vs 92.4 (100 = US avg)
Billings
Median Income
$6,636
$69,692 vs $63,056/yr
Billings
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
3.6% vs 5.3% unemployment
Tyler
Violent Crime
48% lower
391.2 vs 746.1 per 100k
Tyler
Median Home Value
$80k less
$205,200 vs $285,300
Tyler
Summer Heat
5.8°F warmer
July avg high 93.1°F vs 87.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Billings, MT | Tyler, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.6 ✓ Cheaper | 92.4 |
| Median Home Value | $285,300 | $205,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,064 ✓ Lower | $1,113 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $69,692 ✓ Higher | $63,056 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.6% ✓ Lower | 5.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.2 min ✓ Shorter | 20.6 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.7% ✓ Higher | 6.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 177⚠ High | 98 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 196⚠ High | 103⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 147⚠ High | 91 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) | B (97) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.3:1 | 15.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.2% ✓ Higher | 31.1% |
| High School or Higher | 95.7% ✓ Higher | 87.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Elder Grove Elem | TYLER ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.0°F | 57.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.3°F | 93.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.3" ✓ Drier | 47.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 57.4" | 0.5" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 117,093 ✓ Larger | 106,440 |
| Median Age | 37.7 ✓ Older | 34.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 64.8% ✓ Higher | 54.9% |
| Under 18 | 22.7% | 22.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 18.0% ✓ More | 16.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Billings's cost of living index is 89.6 vs Tyler's 92.4 (US average = 100).
Billings is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Billings leads 13 of 23 categories. Billings wins 13 and Tyler wins 10. 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 Tyler or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($285,300 vs $205,200 median home), income ($69,692 vs $63,056), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Billings, MT and Tyler, TX are about 1,168 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.