Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Billings, MT
VS
Waterbury, CT
🏆 Billings leads 15 of 22 categories
Billings
Montana
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$69,692 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
196⚠ High
Population
117,093 ✓ Larger
Waterbury
Connecticut
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.1
Median Household Income
$51,451
Violent Crime Index
85 ✓ Safer
Population
114,480
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 6.2 pts lower (3.6%)
Households earn $18,241 more per year on average
Commutes run 10 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)
Rent averages $76/mo less ($1,064 vs $1,140)
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
Waterbury, CT
Pros
Homes cost $123k less ($162,800 vs $285,300)
57% less violent crime than Billings
Smaller class sizes — 12.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Billings by $18,241/yr
Property crime (2918.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (9.8% vs 3.6%)
Snowy winters — about 47" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Billings
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 89.6 vs 95.1 (100 = US avg)
Billings
Median Income
$18,241
$69,692 vs $51,451/yr
Billings
Unemployment
6.2 pp lower
3.6% vs 9.8% unemployment
Billings
Summer Heat
3.3°F warmer
July avg high 87.3°F vs 84.0°F
Waterbury
Violent Crime
57% lower
322.5 vs 746.1 per 100k
Waterbury
Median Home Value
$123k less
$162,800 vs $285,300
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Billings, MT | Waterbury, CT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.6 ✓ Cheaper | 95.1 |
| Median Home Value | $285,300 | $162,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,064 ✓ Lower | $1,140 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $69,692 ✓ Higher | $51,451 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.6% ✓ Lower | 9.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.2 min ✓ Shorter | 27.6 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.7% ✓ Higher | 6.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 177⚠ High | 107⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 196⚠ High | 85 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 147⚠ High | 139⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) ✓ Better | B- (91) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.3:1 | 12.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.2% ✓ Higher | 16.7% |
| High School or Higher | 95.7% ✓ Higher | 81.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Elder Grove Elem | Waterbury School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.0°F | 37.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.3°F ✓ Warmer | 84.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.3" ✓ Drier | 52.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 57.4" | 46.8" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 117,093 ✓ Larger | 114,480 |
| Median Age | 37.7 ✓ Older | 36.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 64.8% ✓ Higher | 43.8% |
| Under 18 | 22.7% | 22.7% |
| Over 65 | 18.0% ✓ More | 13.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Billings's cost of living index is 89.6 vs Waterbury's 95.1 (US average = 100).
Billings is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Billings leads 15 of 22 categories. Billings wins 15 and Waterbury 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 Waterbury or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($285,300 vs $162,800 median home), income ($69,692 vs $51,451), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Billings, MT and Waterbury, CT are about 1,784 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.