Is Billings or New York City Safer?
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of 2024 FBI data, New York City is safer than Billings (Safety Score 19/100 vs 10/100), with a total crime rate of 3,040 per 100,000 versus 3,832 for Billings — 21% lower. Billings has higher rates in 1 of 7 crime categories.
The biggest difference is in robbery, where Billings has a 54% lower rate.
Note: New York City is 68.0x larger by coverage, which can affect crime rate comparisons. Larger cities tend to report higher rates due to density and more comprehensive reporting.
Billings — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
New York City — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Billings, MT
New York City, NY
Detailed Crime Rate Comparison
| Crime Type | Billings | New York City | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crime Rate | 3,832.0 | 3,039.7 | +792.3 |
| Violent Crime Rate | 748.5 | 671.4 | +77.1 |
| Murder Rate | 7.4 | 3.9 | +3.5 |
| Rape Rate | 78.6 | 23.4 | +55.2 |
| Robbery Rate | 86.0 | 187.5 | -101.5 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate | 574.1 | 456.2 | +117.9 |
| Property Crime Rate | 3,083.4 | 2,368.3 | +715.1 |
| Burglary Rate | 364.4 | 154.7 | +209.7 |
| Larceny-Theft Rate | 2,299.7 | 2,015.0 | +284.7 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate | 419.3 | 198.5 | +220.8 |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Billings or New York City safer?
New York City is safer with a total crime rate of 3,040 per 100K vs 3,832 for Billings — a 21% difference.
How do violent crime rates compare?
Billings has a violent crime rate of 748.5 per 100K while New York City has 671.4. New York City has lower violent crime.
About Billings, MT
Billings, Montana's largest city, sits on the Yellowstone River, a hub for the region's agricultural and energy industries. Founded as a railroad town, its history is deeply tied to westward expansion. The city is a growing metropolitan area with a diverse economy. With a safety score of 10/100 and a population coverage of 122,105, Billings has a total crime rate of 3,832.0 per 100,000 residents.
About New York City, NY
New York City, a global financial hub, sits at the mouth of the Hudson River. Home to the iconic Statue of Liberty, its five boroughs house over 8 million people, making it the most populous city in the United States. With a safety score of 19/100 and a population coverage of 8,299,271, New York City has a total crime rate of 3,039.7 per 100,000 residents.