Billings, Montana
AffordabilityAffordability: grade C, better than 43% of US places
WeatherWeather: grade C, better than 28% of US places
Safety & WellbeingSafety & Wellbeing: grade D, better than 22% of US places
Getting AroundGetting Around: grade B+, better than 70% of US places
Lifestyle & ConnectivityLifestyle & Connectivity: grade C, better than 30% of US places
- top 2% for sales tax
- top 3% for air quality
- bottom 1% for airport distance
Billings is a city in Montana with about 117,000 residents. It grades B+ for getting around and D for safety & wellbeing. Standout strengths include sales tax, air quality, and commute time. It rates lower on property crime and airport distance.
Official websitebillingsmt.gov (opens in new tab)
Climate
Warm, dry summers · Cold winters · Dry · Heavy snow
very cold
cold
cool
comf.
warm
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cool
cold
v.cold
81%53%clearovercast
Precipitation 1.7 in0.6 in
dry
Livability factors
Affordability
Median Household Income$70k61st percentile — neutral, not ranked
Cost of Living$49kbetter than 38% of US places
Home Value$285k76th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Monthly Rent$1kbetter than 36% of US places
Monthly Owner Costs$2kbetter than 33% of US places
Property Tax Rate0.91%better than 56% of US places
Income Tax5.90%better than 33% of US places
Sales Tax0.00%better than 98% of US places
Estimated total tax burden9.62%better than 53% of US places
Unemployment3.6%better than 52% of US places
Weather
Winter Temp (Jan)27°F30th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Summer Temp (Jul)73°F32nd percentile — neutral, not ranked
Annual Precipitation14.8 in8th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Annual Snowfall48.2 inbetter than 15% of US places
Sunny Days232 daysbetter than 48% of US places
Summer Humidity48°Fbetter than 93% of US places
Comfortable Days59 daysbetter than 13% of US places
Safety & Wellbeing
Natural Disaster Risk47.3better than 74% of US places
Air Quality20 AQIbetter than 97% of US places
School Quality36.8better than 10% of US places
Violent Crime2214/100kbetter than 6% of US places
Property Crime4335/100kbetter than 2% of US places
Community
Population117,09399th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Median Age37.734th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Racial Diversity0.2455th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Male/Female Ratio0.9850th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Political LeaningR+2550th percentile — neutral, not ranked
White (%)83.5%47th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Black (%)0.5%51st percentile — neutral, not ranked
Hispanic (%)7.1%65th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Asian (%)0.9%69th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Other / Multiracial (%)8.0%85th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Getting Around
Commute Time17 minbetter than 94% of US places
Walkability10.1/20better than 87% of US places
Airport Distance385 mibetter than 1% of US places
Lifestyle & Connectivity
Broadband Access89.2%better than 61% of US places
Amenities Nearby32.20better than 30% of US places
Park & Nature AccessModeratebetter than 30% of US places
Similar places
Frequently asked questions
- Is Billings an affordable place to live?
- Billings is relatively expensive. Its cost-of-living index is $49k, better than 38% of comparable areas.
- What is the median home value in Billings?
- The median home value in Billings is $285k, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- What is the median household income in Billings?
- Median household income in Billings is $70k, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- How much is rent in Billings?
- Median gross rent in Billings is $1k a month, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- Is Billings safe?
- Billings is higher-crime than most comparable areas, with a violent crime rate of 2214/100k (better than 6%). Property crime is 4335/100k.
- What is the weather like in Billings?
- Billings averages 73°F in July and 27°F in January, with 14.8 in of annual precipitation and about 232 sunny days a year.
- How are the schools in Billings?
- Public-school quality in Billings is below average, scoring better than 10% of comparable areas on a composite of graduation rates, spending, and student-teacher ratio.
- How long is the commute in Billings?
- The average one-way commute in Billings is 17 min.
Places near Billings
Compare Billings
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Data sources
- EPA Air Quality (AQI)
- EPA Smart Location Database
- EPI Family Budget Calculator
- FAA airport enplanements
- FBI Uniform Crime Reports
- FEMA National Risk Index
- MIT Election Data Lab (2020)
- NCES School Finance Survey
- NOAA Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA nClimGrid
- OpenStreetMap
- Tax Foundation + state revenue depts
- U.S. Census ACS (5-Year)
- USGS Protected Areas (PAD-US)