Billings vs Wilmington: Cost of Living (2026)
A side-by-side comparison of Billings, MT and Wilmington, NC, using US Census Bureau data.
| Metric | Billings, MT | Wilmington, NC |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 117,093 | 116,933 |
| Median household income | $69,692 | $58,908 |
| Median home value | $285,300 | $318,600 |
| Median rent (/mo) | $1,064 | $1,213 |
Source: US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022). Highlighted cell = more affordable / higher income.
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compare-top (set NEXT_PUBLIC_ADSENSE_CLIENT to serve real ads)Comparing Billings, MT and Wilmington, NC comes down to what you value most. Billings has the lower median home value, and Billings has the lower median rent.
Billings has the higher median household income, which affects how far a paycheck stretches against local housing costs. The table below breaks down the key numbers side by side, all sourced from the US Census Bureau.
Frequently asked questions
- Is it cheaper to live in Billings or Wilmington?
- By median home value, Billings is the cheaper of the two ($285,300 vs $318,600). Rent and income differ too — see the full comparison above.
- Which has higher salaries, Billings or Wilmington?
- Median household income is $69,692 in Billings versus $58,908 in Wilmington, per the US Census Bureau.