Name: Billings, MT
Rating: 0.0

( 30 Ratings )

Living in Billings, MT

Ranks better than 77% of areas Follow

Population

109,705

Median Age

37.3 Years

Billings Area Facts

Billings has a Livability Score of 77_/100, which is considered exceptional
Billings crime rates are 125% higher than the Montana average
Cost of living in Billings is 7% higher than the Montana average

What do the locals think about Billings?

45%

Family friendly

27%

Public transit is accessible

32%

Walkable to grocery stores

45%

Yards are well-kept

68%

Lots of parks

32%

Walkable to restaurants

Friendly neighbors

Safe at night

Pet friendly

Streets have sidewalks

23%

A quiet area

36%

Sense of community

Based on 22 votes from AreaVibes users. Take the poll

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Billings Reviews

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Nick R Page 3 rating By Anonymous ( Jan 05, 2021) Billings has lots to do and lots of places to shop. The sight seeing isn't very good and the crime rate is fairly high. Decent place to live. ...Read More Read Less

Terrible Police Department 0.5 rating By Anonymous ( Oct 13, 2018) The crime in our area is beyond acceptable because Billings PD officers are NOT doing their jobs. Never patrol our neighborhoods, but guaranteed day or night to see a police car just cruising 24th street flirting and showing off. Night shift sleeping or sitting in restaurants wh ...Read More ile crime increases. Drivers speed all over town because they get no citations. Drivers texting & talking on cell phones everywhere. Chief needs to get gone because he is the problem, he is the reason their is too much drama and internal conflict which is reflected in BPD's overall lack of protecting our community! Read Less

Get out while you can! 1.5 rating By hlamiaux ( Jul 11, 2017) I moved here bout 3 years, since my husband is from here. the only other place i've lived is my hometown, which is pretty much a mini version of Billings in western Montana. I cannot wait to move out of Billings. It was nice to live in a bigger city with more options for shopping ...Read More and job opportunities, but the cons quickly outweighed the pros. It took us 2 months to find a rental that accepted dogs. We are extremely lucky our rental is on the cheap side and we are allowed to have our animals. PROS: no tax, biggest city in MT, many walking trails and parks, has many of the big chain retail stores (walmart, costco, Ross, ect.) CONS: its sad because I can think of way more cons than pros! - very hot in the summer, very cold in the winter, rent is ridiculously high I dont understand how most people can afford to live here, wages are low compared to the price of living, pretty much NOTHING for people or couples in their 20s unless you like to go out the very few "popular" bars (definitely not clubs) and plan on getting ur ass beat or mocked by wannabe gangsters, too many casinos and bars, locals are very rude and if they are not rude, they are def on crack or some other planet, i have never lived anywhere where there was so much drug abuse and crime. the kind of stuff that happens in Billings should be happening in a city 3-5x its size. Don't ever leave your car unlocked, you will get everything stolen or have it stolen. Don't get a pet if you plan on renting here. Traffic is ridiculous pretty much due to idiotic drivers and road rage. There is actually a group dedicated to the road rage of Billings, see for yourself. Public education is a joke. Downton would be nice to walk around if it wasn't overrun with homeless drunks. people seems to be very judgy and racist in this town. I work in the service indutry and meet alot of people on a daily basis. Racism is definitely alive and well in Billings and filled with very closed minded individuals. I can't really think of much more to say about Billings, except that i can't wait to leave. I cannot see myself wanting to settle here permanently. hopefully this helps in whatever decisions or thoughts you have on Billings! Read Less

Not the worst place I've lived 2 rating By Lady_Anonymous ( Feb 19, 2017) Pros: The Mountian Views are pretty much everywhereCons: People are rude, The schools are not very good (especially for kids that need a little more learning attention), Cost of living is horrible (rentals are not worth the money they ask for, you might as well buy your own hom ...Read More e), Crime is ridiculous (not just on the south side), not the best place for minorities (Lots of looks, not much is said, but the kids in my family have been called the "N" word by other kids in school... Also by brother has been harassed by the police here) There is NOTHING to do Unless you like to bar hop, pay for Expensive A** tickets at the Metra (which don't have the best selection of entertainment [and don't get me wrong I Love country music, but that's all there is, if there is any other entertainment they either don't come because there are not enough pre-ticket sales or they are not Allowed to perform at Metra... they have to go to the Shrine which is on the westend])... They are also trying to "develop" the city and Modernize it but it's just a lot of nonsense construction for no reason (It's Highly annoying). The jobs out here don't pay very well unless you work at a McDonalds. Not a lot of family activities. Once a year they have the MontanaFair, It's pretty cool but it's always packed and there is not enough parking...or spaceSo basically unless you are a College Student that is not a minority and loves to bar hop.... Billings is probably not for you Read Less

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Get out while you can! 1.5 rating By hlamiaux ( Jul 11, 2017) I moved here bout 3 years, since my husband is from here. the only other place i've lived is my hometown, which is pretty much a mini version of Billings in western Montana. I cannot wait to move out of Billings. It was nice to live in a bigger city with more options for shopping ...Read More and job opportunities, but the cons quickly outweighed the pros. It took us 2 months to find a rental that accepted dogs. We are extremely lucky our rental is on the cheap side and we are allowed to have our animals. PROS: no tax, biggest city in MT, many walking trails and parks, has many of the big chain retail stores (walmart, costco, Ross, ect.) CONS: its sad because I can think of way more cons than pros! - very hot in the summer, very cold in the winter, rent is ridiculously high I dont understand how most people can afford to live here, wages are low compared to the price of living, pretty much NOTHING for people or couples in their 20s unless you like to go out the very few "popular" bars (definitely not clubs) and plan on getting ur ass beat or mocked by wannabe gangsters, too many casinos and bars, locals are very rude and if they are not rude, they are def on crack or some other planet, i have never lived anywhere where there was so much drug abuse and crime. the kind of stuff that happens in Billings should be happening in a city 3-5x its size. Don't ever leave your car unlocked, you will get everything stolen or have it stolen. Don't get a pet if you plan on renting here. Traffic is ridiculous pretty much due to idiotic drivers and road rage. There is actually a group dedicated to the road rage of Billings, see for yourself. Public education is a joke. Downton would be nice to walk around if it wasn't overrun with homeless drunks. people seems to be very judgy and racist in this town. I work in the service indutry and meet alot of people on a daily basis. Racism is definitely alive and well in Billings and filled with very closed minded individuals. I can't really think of much more to say about Billings, except that i can't wait to leave. I cannot see myself wanting to settle here permanently. hopefully this helps in whatever decisions or thoughts you have on Billings! Read Less

Not the worst place I've lived 2 rating By Lady_Anonymous ( Feb 19, 2017) Pros: The Mountian Views are pretty much everywhereCons: People are rude, The schools are not very good (especially for kids that need a little more learning attention), Cost of living is horrible (rentals are not worth the money they ask for, you might as well buy your own hom ...Read More e), Crime is ridiculous (not just on the south side), not the best place for minorities (Lots of looks, not much is said, but the kids in my family have been called the "N" word by other kids in school... Also by brother has been harassed by the police here) There is NOTHING to do Unless you like to bar hop, pay for Expensive A** tickets at the Metra (which don't have the best selection of entertainment [and don't get me wrong I Love country music, but that's all there is, if there is any other entertainment they either don't come because there are not enough pre-ticket sales or they are not Allowed to perform at Metra... they have to go to the Shrine which is on the westend])... They are also trying to "develop" the city and Modernize it but it's just a lot of nonsense construction for no reason (It's Highly annoying). The jobs out here don't pay very well unless you work at a McDonalds. Not a lot of family activities. Once a year they have the MontanaFair, It's pretty cool but it's always packed and there is not enough parking...or spaceSo basically unless you are a College Student that is not a minority and loves to bar hop.... Billings is probably not for you Read Less

Not the worst place in the world, but you can definitely do worse. 3 rating By ender406 ( Jul 30, 2016) I'll be straight up with you.Pros: Nearby mountains, shopping is okay, a good city parks and recreation system, the universities in Billings are good for what they offer, a walk-able brewery district, great music scene for Montana, culinary scene is improving, Chinook winds warm ...Read More temperatures up in the winter for a few days, good for hunters and fishermen/women. Billings Clinic is a large employer and treats its employees well.Cons: Crime, drugs, alcoholism and drunk drivers, not enough people that care about their community, above average cost of living with high property taxes, unemployment is low but jobs also pay low, homeless population is high, air quality isn't always great, and the city has an inadequate city snow removal system. Also, if you're looking for big city life there, you should probably go to Denver. Read Less

Billings, Montana: A City for Outdoor Lovers 3.5 rating By Anonymous ( Jan 13, 2015) I lived in Billings, Montana for 15 years in my early twenties. I enjoyed the beautiful views of the nearby mountain ranges and the sunny climate. I really enjoyed all the outdoor opportunities located in and near Billings. I spent a great deal of time hiking the city trails and ...Read More getting a chance to take in the views of the Yellowstone River. I skateboarded during this time, and Billings has a very large, public concrete skateboard park which only has to close for a few months during the winter.

One of the things I liked about living in Billings was the friendliness of the locals and access to good shopping. I liked being able to stock up at the big box stores before going to the mountains for camping and fishing trips. I also liked the variety of restaurant options in the newer areas of Billings, away from the downtown part of the city.

I found housing to be very reasonable in Billings, especially for newer builds in the northern parts of the city. I also appreciated the low taxes found in the state of Montana, and the cost of living was very lower during this time.

Downtown Billings has its good areas and other areas that weren't very kid friendly. The west end of Billings has an oil refinery, and this area of the city is very industrialized. I lived in the northern part of the city during my time here, and enjoyed being a part of the neighborhood and interacting with other young professionals in this part of the city. I enjoyed my time in Billings and still enjoy visiting the city after relocating away from the area.
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running away soon! 0.5 rating By runningaway ( Aug 11, 2014) I'm from montana, born and raised. I moved to Billings 2 1/2 years ago and I can't wait to leave. Crime is pretty bad here, from robberies and shooting to drunk drivers wrecking into everything.Renting is the worst part of Billings. Almost everything is run by property management ...Read More companies and the rental prices are horrible for mediocre housing. Also if you have a dog or cat you might as well give up all hope of finding somewhere to live. This is the worst town when it comes to pets. They simply hate cats and dogs but not horses or cows. I'm serious one guy told me I could have livestock but not my well trained black lab. The restaurants are fine but I'd avoid downtown whenever possible unless you like drunks who beg for money. They literally line the streets of downtown. The city parks are okay but a good portion of them have homeless people in them, so I quit taking my kids. There's not much in the way of stuff to do that doesn't cost money. Outside of restaurants Billings doesn't have a lot to offer anyone.
By the way stay away from here in winter, whoever plows the streets here is a complete moron. Read Less

I Can't Wait To Leave. 0.5 rating By MontanaBorn ( Jun 17, 2011) Having lived in Billings for the past nine years, I can't wait to leave. If you do come to Billings please allow me to let you into what to expect.

The scenery is lacking unless you like barren rock and scrub brush.

The people, well you will learn that every stereotype i ...Read More n regards to Native Americans and White Trash is alive and well. There is a very Larry The Cable Guy type of mentality here. In fact you will see many vehicles with those fake testicles attached to them and "Git R Dun" stickers in the windows and on the bumpers. Be prepared to be treated with contempt and racism by the Native American population of which there is in abundance.

The traffic is atrocious and the drivers completely have the "I am entitled" attitude. There is a cell phone while driving ban within the city limits but it seems that nobody cares. The police also seem to be laissez faire. There are multiple published stories about the corruption within the law enforcement in Billings and the local judicial system as well.

Shopping is pretty generic with all of the usual suspects in regards to national names (Wal-Mart, Best Buy, Target, etc.) Dining I must admit is decent. Plenty of excellent local eateries and your usual national chains. The problem there is that there are always lines and waiting times at any of these places. It is a common joke that nobody in Billings cooks everyone eats out.

Grocery store selection is limited to Albertson's, Wal-Mart, Sam's Club, Costco and an IGA. Less than 10 years ago there was a larger variety which made for more competition and better prices.

If you are looking to rent, good luck. The rent in this town is ridiculously high and you will be lucky to find a rental that isn't run by a property management company. I would avoid Rainbow Property Management, which is hard because they are the largest in town but they also have an "F" rating with the Better Business Bureau. From personal experience, this "F" is well earned.

For a city of its size there is a large criminal and drug element here. Having worked in private security I have seen it first hand. There is some scary stuff that goes on in the dark of the night here that doesn't get the proper media coverage. You will find that there are a lot of wannabe gangbangers cruising around like they are out of the Fast & Furious movies. They seem to cause the most grief for the citizens. A majority of the males here have the "I'm a UFC Champion" mentality and believe that they can beat up everyone they come across. I find this mentality amusing but some may not. Just watch your business or you might be randomly faced with a "kick boxing champion from Tennessee" like I did in the parking lot of an Albertson's. All I did was point out a Burger King sign to my wife and this genius assumed I was pointing to him and raced over to confront me. That kind of thing happens a lot here. Oh yeah, he seemed to be full of hot air and after warning me of his kick boxing prowess and what he could do to me, he left.

I don't know what else to add. I can't comment on the nightlife as I do not partake in it. I do know that drunk driving is not just against the law but a way of life here so beware.

Yes that is a perfect way to end this. BEWARE! Read Less

I Will Not Go Back To Billings, MT 2.5 rating By Anonymous ( May 20, 2010) I had the opportunity to visit Billings, MT. I spent a week there. I could not get out of that city fast enough. I found Billings to be extremely slow and lacking. The people did not seem to understand someone who was different from them, nor were they interested in learning.

I ...Read More stayed at the Comfort Inn on Overland Ave. This hotel was the worst hotel I have ever stayed in. My room was cleaned only once during my week stay. There was a mall nearby, it was called the Billings Rimrock Mall. The mall was not up to my standards. I felt that I stood out like a sore thumb walking around in there. I am into fashion and designer clothes. There was nothing fashionable in this mall, unless you consider fashion Wrangler jeans and cowboy hats. There were several restaurants around the hotel. I have to say that I did enjoy the burgers at Fudruckers. I had never eaten there before, but now I stop in whenever I see one. I am not trying to discourage anyone from visiting Billings, MT. This is just purely my opinion and others may feel differently about the town. I am just used to a more fast paced way of life. Read Less

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Compare Billings, MT Livability

Billings, MT

Located in southern Montana along the Yellowstone River, Billings, or the Magic City as locals know it, is one of the largest and most important cities in the entire state. The city is home to over 100,000 people who love to enjoy the amazing outdoor opportunities that are available in the surrounding area. The Moss Mansion Museum is one of the city's top attractions, and it was the home of a prominent banker in the area who started a heat and power plant that set the city up for success in the decades following its construction.

Traffic jams are pretty much non-existent in Billings thanks to its population and the large number of quality roads that serve the community. MET transit provides bus service and shuttle vans for those who are looking for a public transit option. There is also a large number of people who ride their bikes to get around town as they take advantage of wide shoulders and courteous drivers.

The largest employers in Billings are in the medical industry, and the list includes Billings Clinic and the Billings Lab. The Aageson Farm is a large-scale commercial farming operation that also provides employment opportunities for a large portion of the city's working age adults. Home prices in Billings are extremely affordable, and buyers will have their choice of homes on the market. Cameron Park, Central - Terry, and North Elevation are several of the neighborhoods that are popular with home buyers.

One of the top attractions for kids and families in the area is Zoo Montana where you can get up close and personal with some of the most loved animals in nature. The Yellowstone Art Museum is another family-friendly activity that will help you and yours learn about the rich history of the area.

For a small city, Billings offers a surprising number of delicious restaurants. La Tinga, The Burger Dive, and Crazy Mary's Fish and Chips are a few of the restaurants that are universally raved about by the citizens of Billings. In addition to these choices, you will find the majority of the chain restaurants that are available throughout the state.

Billings is known for its rich past, and one of the most interesting figures to spend time in the city was Charles Lindbergh. The famous pilot spent for months in the city where he dazzled crowds with his parachuting exhibitions.

If you and your family are looking for this same sense of adventure in your new hometown, then Billings is a good choice since it offers a very affordable cost of living, schools with a good reputation for quality teaching, and a variety of shopping options to provide for all your needs.