Is Billings cheaper than Dallas?

Yes. Typical rent in Billings is $1,138 a month versus $1,472 in Dallas — 23% cheaper. Median household income is $73,712 in Billings compared with $70,518 in Dallas, so Billings has the stronger local pay picture.

Which city is safer, Billings or Dallas?

Billings is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 103 versus 109 in Dallas — 6% lower (100 is the national average). Citywide indexes still hide neighborhood variation, so walk the block you would actually rent.

Which city has better schools, Billings or Dallas?

School composites are close: A- in Billings and A- in Dallas. Tour specific campuses rather than picking a city on the letter grade alone.

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City comparison

Billings, MT vs Dallas, TX

Billings, MT versus Dallas, TX is a real move, not a trivia matchup. This comparison uses the same 2026 neighborhood report data we publish on each city page — typical rent, median household income, crime indexes, school composites, and typical weather — so you can see which city actually fits how you live, work, and spend. Typical rents sit near $1,138 a month in Billings and $1,472 in Dallas, and median household income lands at $73,712 versus $70,518. Open either city's full report when you want the block-level detail behind these headlines.

Billings takes affordability, job market, safety, and weather. The widest gap is typical weather, where Billings leads by 56% — the kind of spread you feel in a monthly budget or a nightly walk, not just on a chart. Read the category rows as a filter: if cheaper housing would change your life more than a stronger job market, weight rent first. If you are moving with kids, weight schools and crime. If you picked a city after one good weekend, use the weather and income rows to test whether that weekend survives a full year.

Numbers below are citywide, not a guarantee about the street you will actually live on. Two ZIP codes in Billings can feel further apart than Billings and Dallas do on paper. Use this page to pick a city, then use the Billings and Dallas reports to pick a neighborhood — and visit in the season you like least before you sign anything.

Full Billings report Full Dallas report

Billings, MT

Rent: $1,138/mo
Median income: $73,712
Crime index: 103
Schools: A-
Weather: 80°F

Dallas, TX

Rent: $1,472/mo
Median income: $70,518
Crime index: 109
Schools: A-
Weather: 91°F

Rent

23% cheaper

Billings rent is 23% cheaper than Dallas

Billings

Winner

$1,138/mo

Dallas

$1,472/mo

What this means for your life

Typical rent runs $1,138 a month in Billings versus $1,472 in Dallas, so Billings is 23% cheaper. That's roughly $334/month back in your pocket — $4,008/year. Over five years that's $20,040 you could redirect toward a down payment, travel, or investments. Housing is the bill you pay before groceries, childcare, or a social life, so that gap shows up in how often you eat out and how panicked a rent hike feels. If you already have a high-paying offer in Dallas, the extra rent can be rational. If you do not, Billings is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.

Median income

5% higher

Billings's median income is 5% higher than Dallas

Billings

Winner

$73,712

Dallas

$70,518

What this means for your life

Median household income is $73,712 in Billings versus $70,518 in Dallas, so typical pay runs 5% higher in Billings — about $3,194 more household income a year. The income edge is modest. Treat it as extra negotiating context, not a reason to ignore rent, schools, or climate. Remote workers especially should not treat citywide pay as a personal raise if their employer will not localize salary.

Crime index

6% lower crime

Billings's crime index is 6% lower than Dallas

Billings

Winner

103 (100 = avg)

Dallas

109 (100 = avg)

What this means for your life

Billings's crime index is 103 versus 109 in Dallas (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 6% lower in Billings. The difference is noticeable without being night-and-day. You will still want to pick the neighborhood carefully in Billings, but you will usually spend less energy on constant vigilance than you would in Dallas. Tour both cities after dark before you let a modest index gap close the decision.

School scores

Neck and neck

Billings and Dallas are about even on school scores.

Billings

A- · 84/100

Dallas

A- · 84/100

What this means for your life

School composites are effectively even (A- in Billings, A- in Dallas). For families with kids this is a warning if you assumed one city was obviously better — at this range the campus, not the city name, decides it. Tour the zoned elementary you would actually use.

Typical weather

56% more comfortable

Billings weather is 56% more comfortable than Dallas

Billings

Winner

80°F typical

Dallas

91°F typical

What this means for your life

Billings scores 56% more comfortable on this page's weather index, which rewards temperatures closer to a livable outdoor day. Typical temperatures sit around 80°F in Billings and 91°F in Dallas. Billings reads as warm weather most of the year; Dallas reads as hot, long summers. Climate affects quality of life more than most people anticipate when planning a move. Consider how much time you spend outdoors and whether extreme heat or cold impacts your mood or productivity. Billings is the better default if you want year-round outdoor access. Dallas can still be right if you love that climate on purpose — beach heat, dry heat, or a real winter — but you cannot return a city's weather.

Fit check

Who should choose Billings

Career-focused movers who want salary upside plus year-round outdoor access

Billings is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 23% cheaper here at about $1,138 a month. Choose Billings if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.

It is also a match for career-focused movers who want salary upside and year-round outdoor access. Median household income runs 5% higher ($73,712), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two — around 80°F. That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.

Billings is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 6% lower than Dallas (103 vs a 100 national average). That gap shows up in how freely you walk at night and how much attention you spend on the car and the deadbolt.

Open the Billings report →

Fit check

Who should choose Dallas

People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Dallas

On these five categories Billings takes the scoreboard, so you should not choose Dallas because the stats are kinder — they are not. Choose Dallas only if a job offer, family, a specific neighborhood, or a life you already started there outweighs the box score. Plenty of good moves ignore the aggregate; just do it on purpose.

Open the Dallas report →

Bottom line

Billings vs Dallas, called

If weather is your priority, Billings is the clear choice.

If cost of living matters more to you, Billings pulls ahead.

For most movers comparing these two cities, Billings offers the better overall package.

Common questions

Billings vs Dallas FAQ

Is Billings cheaper than Dallas?: Yes. Typical rent in Billings is $1,138 a month versus $1,472 in Dallas — 23% cheaper. Median household income is $73,712 in Billings compared with $70,518 in Dallas, so Billings has the stronger local pay picture.
Which city is safer, Billings or Dallas?: Billings is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 103 versus 109 in Dallas — 6% lower (100 is the national average). Citywide indexes still hide neighborhood variation, so walk the block you would actually rent.
Which city has better schools, Billings or Dallas?: School composites are close: A- in Billings and A- in Dallas. Tour specific campuses rather than picking a city on the letter grade alone.

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