Billings MT vs Kennewick WA — Cost of Living, Crime & Income Comparison 2026
Updated May 2026 · Source: US Census ACS 5-Year (2023), FBI CDE (2023), BLS OEWS (2024)
Billings, MT
Montana · Population: 118,321
- Median HH Income$71,855
- Median Home Price$398,212
- Unemployment3.5%
- Bachelor's+37.0%
Kennewick, WA
Washington · Population: 23,594
- Median HH Income$137,926
- Median Home Price$433,399
- Unemployment3.0%
- Bachelor's+57.1%
Detailed Comparison
Demographics
Population
Billings
118,321
Billings +
Kennewick
23,594
Pop. Density / sq mi
Lower = more space
Billings
N/A
Kennewick
N/A
Median Age
Billings
38.1
Billings +
Kennewick
38.7
Foreign Born
Billings
2.0%
Kennewick
22.3%
Kennewick +
White
Billings
86.3%
Billings +
Kennewick
67.9%
Black
Billings
1.0%
Kennewick
3.1%
Kennewick +
Asian
Billings
0.9%
Kennewick
14.8%
Kennewick +
Hispanic
Billings
7.2%
Kennewick
10.7%
Kennewick +
Spanish at Home
Billings
N/A
Kennewick
N/A
| Metric | Billings, MT | Kennewick, WA | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 118,321 | 23,594 | Billings + |
| Pop. Density / sq miLower = more space | N/A | N/A | - |
| Median Age | 38.1 | 38.7 | Billings + |
| Foreign Born | 2.0% | 22.3% | Kennewick + |
| White | 86.3% | 67.9% | Billings + |
| Black | 1.0% | 3.1% | Kennewick + |
| Asian | 0.9% | 14.8% | Kennewick + |
| Hispanic | 7.2% | 10.7% | Kennewick + |
| Spanish at Home | N/A | N/A | - |
Economy
Median HH Income
Billings
$71,855
Kennewick
$137,926
Kennewick +
Per Capita Income
Billings
$42,639
Kennewick
$70,195
Kennewick +
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)
BEA MSA-level
Billings
$62,117
Kennewick
$76,120
Kennewick +
Unemployment Rate
Billings
3.5%
Kennewick
3.0%
Kennewick +
Poverty Rate
Billings
10.6%
Kennewick
6.0%
Kennewick +
Bachelor's Degree+
Billings
37.0%
Kennewick
57.1%
Kennewick +
| Metric | Billings, MT | Kennewick, WA | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median HH Income | $71,855 | $137,926 | Kennewick + |
| Per Capita Income | $42,639 | $70,195 | Kennewick + |
| Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)BEA MSA-level | $62,117 | $76,120 | Kennewick + |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.5% | 3.0% | Kennewick + |
| Poverty Rate | 10.6% | 6.0% | Kennewick + |
| Bachelor's Degree+ | 37.0% | 57.1% | Kennewick + |
Housing
Median Home Value
Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS
Billings
$398,212
Billings +
Kennewick
$433,399
Homeownership Rate
Billings
64.8%
Kennewick
69.7%
Kennewick +
| Metric | Billings, MT | Kennewick, WA | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home ValueZillow ZHVI / Census ACS | $398,212 | $433,399 | Billings + |
| Homeownership Rate | 64.8% | 69.7% | Kennewick + |
Safety
Violent Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Billings
433
Kennewick
383
Kennewick +
Property Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Billings
1984
Billings +
Kennewick
3409
| Metric | Billings, MT | Kennewick, WA | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.) | 433 | 383 | Kennewick + |
| Property Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.) | 1984 | 3409 | Billings + |
Health
Obesity Rate
CDC PLACES
Billings
33.9%
Billings +
Kennewick
37.4%
Diabetes Rate
CDC PLACES
Billings
9.5%
Billings +
Kennewick
10.9%
Poor Mental Health
CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month
Billings
18.0%
Kennewick
17.4%
Kennewick +
No Health Insurance
CDC PLACES
Billings
9.4%
Billings +
Kennewick
13.1%
Binge Drinking
CDC PLACES
Billings
20.0%
Kennewick
16.7%
Kennewick +
Current Smokers
CDC PLACES
Billings
14.1%
Kennewick
11.6%
Kennewick +
| Metric | Billings, MT | Kennewick, WA | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Obesity RateCDC PLACES | 33.9% | 37.4% | Billings + |
| Diabetes RateCDC PLACES | 9.5% | 10.9% | Billings + |
| Poor Mental HealthCDC PLACES — 14+ days/month | 18.0% | 17.4% | Kennewick + |
| No Health InsuranceCDC PLACES | 9.4% | 13.1% | Billings + |
| Binge DrinkingCDC PLACES | 20.0% | 16.7% | Kennewick + |
| Current SmokersCDC PLACES | 14.1% | 11.6% | Kennewick + |
Climate
Avg Annual Temp
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Billings
47.7°F
Billings +
Kennewick
54.7°F
Annual Precipitation
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Billings
14.8 in
Kennewick
7.7 in
Kennewick +
| Metric | Billings, MT | Kennewick, WA | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Annual TempNOAA 1991–2020 normal | 47.7°F | 54.7°F | Billings + |
| Annual PrecipitationNOAA 1991–2020 normal | 14.8 in | 7.7 in | Kennewick + |
Air Quality
PM2.5 Annual Avg
EPA AQS (state-level est.)
Billings
7.4 µg/m³
Billings +
Kennewick
7.5 µg/m³
Good Air Days
AQI ≤ 50
Billings
75.0%
Kennewick
75.0%
Tie
| Metric | Billings, MT | Kennewick, WA | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| PM2.5 Annual AvgEPA AQS (state-level est.) | 7.4 µg/m³ | 7.5 µg/m³ | Billings + |
| Good Air DaysAQI ≤ 50 | 75.0% | 75.0% | Tie |
Commute
Mean Commute Time
Census ACS
Billings
18.0 min
Billings +
Kennewick
32.4 min
| Metric | Billings, MT | Kennewick, WA | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mean Commute TimeCensus ACS | 18.0 min | 32.4 min | Billings + |
Which City is Right for You?
Kennewick leads in median household income at $137,926, while billings offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $398,212. On public safety, Kennewick is safer with a violent crime rate of 383 per 100,000 residents, compared to 433 in Billings. Kennewick has a lower unemployment rate at 3.0%, and Billings has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 7.4 µg/m³). For overall health outcomes, Billings scores better with a lower obesity rate of 33.9%.
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