Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Billings, MT
VS
Warren, MI
🏆 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
Warren
Michigan
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0
Median Household Income
$61,633
Violent Crime Index
143⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
138,588 ✓ Larger
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 3.8 pts lower (3.6%)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 37.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $8,059 more per year on average
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Warren
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
Warren, MI
Pros
Homes cost $116k less ($169,300 vs $285,300)
27% less violent crime than Billings
Smaller class sizes — 16.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (541.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Billings by $8,059/yr
Higher unemployment (7.4% vs 3.6%)
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Billings
Key Differences at a Glance
Billings
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 89.6 vs 98.0 (100 = US avg)
Billings
Median Income
$8,059
$69,692 vs $61,633/yr
Billings
Unemployment
3.8 pp lower
3.6% vs 7.4% unemployment
Billings
Summer Heat
3.8°F warmer
July avg high 87.3°F vs 83.5°F
Warren
Violent Crime
27% lower
541.8 vs 746.1 per 100k
Warren
Median Home Value
$116k less
$169,300 vs $285,300
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Billings, MT | Warren, MI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.6 ✓ Cheaper | 98.0 |
| Median Home Value | $285,300 | $169,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,064 ✓ Lower | $1,139 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $69,692 ✓ Higher | $61,633 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.6% ✓ Lower | 7.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.2 min ✓ Shorter | 25.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.7% | 8.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 177⚠ High | 115⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 196⚠ High | 143⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 147⚠ High | 74 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) ✓ Better | C+ (89) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.3:1 | 16.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.2% ✓ Higher | 19.9% |
| High School or Higher | 95.7% ✓ Higher | 86.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Elder Grove Elem | Warren Consolidated Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.0°F ✓ Warmer | 32.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 87.3°F ✓ Warmer | 83.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.3" ✓ Drier | 29.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 57.4" | 27.9" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 117,093 | 138,588 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.7 | 38.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 64.8% | 71.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.7% ✓ More | 21.1% |
| Over 65 | 18.0% ✓ More | 16.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Billings's cost of living index is 89.6 vs Warren's 98.0 (US average = 100).
Billings is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Billings leads 13 of 23 categories. Billings wins 13 and Warren 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 Warren or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($285,300 vs $169,300 median home), income ($69,692 vs $61,633), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Billings, MT and Warren, MI are about 1,280 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.