Which city is safer, Billings or Nashville-davidson Metropolitan Government (balance)?

Billings is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 103 versus 140 in Nashville-davidson Metropolitan Government (balance) — 26% 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 Nashville-davidson Metropolitan Government (balance)?

School composites are close: A- in Billings and A- in Nashville-davidson Metropolitan Government (balance). Tour specific campuses rather than picking a city on the letter grade alone.

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City comparison

Billings, MT vs Nashville-davidson Metropolitan Government (balance), TN

Billings, MT versus Nashville-davidson Metropolitan Government (balance), TN 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 $1,586 in Nashville-davidson Metropolitan Government (balance), and median household income lands at $73,712 versus $77,371. Open either city's full report when you want the block-level detail behind these headlines.

Billings takes affordability and safety, while Nashville-davidson Metropolitan Government (balance) takes job market and weather. The widest gap is typical weather, where Nashville-davidson Metropolitan Government (balance) leads by 33% — 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 Nashville-davidson Metropolitan Government (balance) do on paper. Use this page to pick a city, then use the Billings and Nashville-davidson Metropolitan Government (balance) reports to pick a neighborhood — and visit in the season you like least before you sign anything.

Full Billings report Full Nashville-davidson Metropolitan Government (balance) report

Billings, MT

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

Nashville-davidson Metropolitan Government (balance), TN

Rent: $1,586/mo
Median income: $77,371
Crime index: 140
Schools: A-
Weather: 70°F

Rent

28% cheaper

Billings rent is 28% cheaper than Nashville-davidson Metropolitan Government (balance)

Billings

Winner

$1,138/mo

Nashville-davidson Metropolitan Government (balance)

$1,586/mo

What this means for your life

Typical rent runs $1,138 a month in Billings versus $1,586 in Nashville-davidson Metropolitan Government (balance), so Billings is 28% cheaper. That's roughly $448/month back in your pocket — $5,376/year. Over five years that's $26,880 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 Nashville-davidson Metropolitan Government (balance), 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

Nashville-davidson Metropolitan Government (balance)'s median income is 5% higher than Billings

Billings

$73,712

Nashville-davidson Metropolitan Government (balance)

Winner

$77,371

What this means for your life

Median household income is $77,371 in Nashville-davidson Metropolitan Government (balance) versus $73,712 in Billings, so typical pay runs 5% higher in Nashville-davidson Metropolitan Government (balance) — about $3,659 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

26% lower crime

Billings's crime index is 26% lower than Nashville-davidson Metropolitan Government (balance)

Billings

Winner

103 (100 = avg)

Nashville-davidson Metropolitan Government (balance)

140 (100 = avg)

What this means for your life

Billings's crime index is 103 versus 140 in Nashville-davidson Metropolitan Government (balance) (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 26% lower in Billings. That gap is meaningful day-to-day — it affects whether you feel comfortable walking at night, leaving your car on the street, or letting kids play outside unsupervised. Indexes still compress a lot of reality: a calmer city has blocks you would skip, and a higher-crime city has streets that feel neighborly at 10 p.m. On the everyday test of walking from the car to the door, Billings is the easier city. Nashville-davidson Metropolitan Government (balance) can still work if you pick the right pocket — just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.

School scores

Neck and neck

Billings and Nashville-davidson Metropolitan Government (balance) are about even on school scores.

Billings

A- · 84/100

Nashville-davidson Metropolitan Government (balance)

A- · 84/100

What this means for your life

School composites are effectively even (A- in Billings, A- in Nashville-davidson Metropolitan Government (balance)). 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

33% more comfortable

Nashville-davidson Metropolitan Government (balance) weather is 33% more comfortable than Billings

Billings

80°F typical

Nashville-davidson Metropolitan Government (balance)

Winner

70°F typical

What this means for your life

Nashville-davidson Metropolitan Government (balance) scores 33% 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 70°F in Nashville-davidson Metropolitan Government (balance). Billings reads as warm weather most of the year; Nashville-davidson Metropolitan Government (balance) reads as mild, livable temperatures. 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. Nashville-davidson Metropolitan Government (balance) is the better default if you want year-round outdoor access. Billings 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

Families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy

Billings is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 28% 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.

Billings is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 26% lower than Nashville-davidson Metropolitan Government (balance) (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 Nashville-davidson Metropolitan Government (balance)

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

It is also a match for career-focused movers who want salary upside and year-round outdoor access. Median household income runs 5% higher ($77,371), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two — around 70°F. That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.

Open the Nashville-davidson Metropolitan Government (balance) report →

Bottom line

Billings vs Nashville-davidson Metropolitan Government (balance), called

If weather is your priority, Nashville-davidson Metropolitan Government (balance) 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 Nashville-davidson Metropolitan Government (balance) FAQ

Is Billings cheaper than Nashville-davidson Metropolitan Government (balance)?: Yes. Typical rent in Billings is $1,138 a month versus $1,586 in Nashville-davidson Metropolitan Government (balance) — 28% cheaper. Median household income is $73,712 in Billings compared with $77,371 in Nashville-davidson Metropolitan Government (balance), so Nashville-davidson Metropolitan Government (balance) has the stronger local pay picture.
Which city is safer, Billings or Nashville-davidson Metropolitan Government (balance)?: Billings is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 103 versus 140 in Nashville-davidson Metropolitan Government (balance) — 26% 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 Nashville-davidson Metropolitan Government (balance)?: School composites are close: A- in Billings and A- in Nashville-davidson Metropolitan Government (balance). Tour specific campuses rather than picking a city on the letter grade alone.

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