What it's like to live in Billings
Billings is a mid-size city in Montana with rent below the national average, unemployment below the national average, commutes that run shorter than most cities, and air quality that stays clean most of the year. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Billings deals with crime rates above the national average, cold winters, snowy winters, and a car-dependent commute, with few people using transit.
The good
- Rent below the national average
- Low unemployment
- Short commutes
- Clean air
- Average class sizes
The not so good
- Crime above national average
- Cold winters
- Snowy winters — 57" per year
- Car-dependent — few commuters use transit
How Billings compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Billings
Based on Billings's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$2,276
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $45,520 a year
- 48% of Billings renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$68,680
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $34,340
- Homes cost 4.7× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▼ 19% below US
$1,138/mo median rent
Cost of living works in this city's favor. Median rent sits around $1,138 a month, nothing that raises eyebrows. Solid value overall. Home prices run above average, with a median around $343,400. Buyers should expect to stretch their budget here.
Median home value $343,400 · 48% of renters cost-burdened
Job market▼ 26% below US
3.2% unemployment
Unemployment here is 3.2%, a little below the national average of 4.3%.
City-level (BLS)
Safety▲ 132% above US
763 violent crimes per 100k
Crime is a real factor here, with violent rates significantly above the national average. That doesn't make the whole city a write-off, but it does mean specific neighborhoods deserve real research before signing a lease.
Property crime 2515/100k · Billings Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▼ 37% below US
17 min average commute
Commutes run short here, averaging 16.5 minutes. That's an underrated perk of living in a smaller or well-planned city, where time isn't lost sitting in traffic. 9 in 10 workers drive to work; 9% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are warm, with highs around 83°F, and winters are cold and harsh, with lows dropping to 19°F. It's a dry climate with limited rainfall.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Healthcare
2 hospitals
There are 2 Medicare-certified hospitals inside city limits. They average 4.0 out of 5 on Medicare's star rating.
Medicare-certified hospitals
Education & workforceNear US average
37% bachelor's degree or higher
Education levels run about average, with 37% college-educated. It's a mix of white-collar and blue-collar work, which can be an asset or a limitation depending on the field.
Schools
33 public schools inside the boundary
There are 33 public schools inside the boundary and 11 private schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 16:1, close to the national average of 16:1.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area (50 miles away). There are 2 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Billings's strongest points are rent below the national average and unemployment below the national average; the main tradeoffs are crime rates above the national average and cold winters. A year of median rent ($1,138/mo) equals 19% of the median household income here, about the same as the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit people watching their budget, job seekers, and people who want short commutes. It may be a harder fit for anyone who doesn't drive.
Other places near Billings
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