The Billings metro is home to 187,269 people (up 10.8% over five years), with a median household income of $74,599. Typical rent of $1,390/month works out to 22.4% of the median household income — comfortably below the 30% affordability threshold (Census ACS + Zillow, September 2026).
The share of Billings's workforce by sector — the base of tenant demand:
| Sector | % of workforce |
|---|---|
| Education & health care | 24.1% |
| Retail trade | 12.2% |
| Arts, food & hospitality | 10.2% |
| Professional & management | 9.8% |
| Construction | 8.5% |
Education & health care is the metro's largest employment base — sectors like education and health care are recession-resilient anchors for rental demand.
Rents at 22.4% of median income leave room for rent growth without pricing out the median tenant. Market pricing, yields and the Star Score live on the Billings market page; run a deal in the calculator.
At the 30%-of-income affordability rule, typical rent of $1,390/month suggests a household income around $56,000/year. The metro's median household income is $74,599.
By workforce share: Education & health care (24.1%), Retail trade (12.2%), Arts, food & hospitality (10.2%) (Census ACS 5-year).