Who moves to Billings, and where they go
Every year the IRS counts how many people move between counties, based on the addresses on their tax returns. Here is what that shows for Yellowstone County, MT, home of Billings, between the 2022 and 2023 tax years.
- Moved in
- 6,803from other US counties
- Moved out
- 6,370to other US counties
- Net
- +433more arrivals than departures
- From abroad
- 46tax filers and dependents only
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Where newcomers come from
| County | People |
|---|---|
| Gallatin County, MT (Bozeman) | 350 |
| Stillwater County, MT | 191 |
| Carbon County, MT | 178 |
| Big Horn County, MT | 164 |
| Maricopa County, AZ (Phoenix) | 157 |
| Missoula County, MT (Missoula) | 155 |
| Cascade County, MT | 135 |
| Lewis and Clark County, MT | 120 |
| Rosebud County, MT | 100 |
| Clark County, NV (Las Vegas) | 88 |
| Musselshell County, MT | 87 |
| San Diego County, CA (San Diego) | 85 |
Where people go when they leave
| County | People |
|---|---|
| Gallatin County, MT (Bozeman) | 301 |
| Carbon County, MT | 232 |
| Stillwater County, MT | 179 |
| Big Horn County, MT | 178 |
| Missoula County, MT (Missoula) | 155 |
| Maricopa County, AZ (Phoenix) | 147 |
| Lewis and Clark County, MT | 132 |
| Cascade County, MT | 106 |
| Musselshell County, MT | 88 |
| Flathead County, MT | 84 |
| Rosebud County, MT | 76 |
| Custer County, MT | 73 |
Most moves are short hops within the same metro area. 2,353 of the newcomers came from elsewhere in Montana and 4,450 from other states. Here are the long-distance moves only, more than 100 miles:
Long-distance newcomers come from
| County | People |
|---|---|
| Gallatin County, MT (Bozeman) | 350 |
| Maricopa County, AZ (Phoenix) | 157 |
| Missoula County, MT (Missoula) | 155 |
| Cascade County, MT | 135 |
| Lewis and Clark County, MT | 120 |
| Clark County, NV (Las Vegas) | 88 |
| San Diego County, CA (San Diego) | 85 |
| King County, WA (Seattle) | 84 |
Long-distance movers go to
| County | People |
|---|---|
| Gallatin County, MT (Bozeman) | 301 |
| Missoula County, MT (Missoula) | 155 |
| Maricopa County, AZ (Phoenix) | 147 |
| Lewis and Clark County, MT | 132 |
| Cascade County, MT | 106 |
| Flathead County, MT | 84 |
| Custer County, MT | 73 |
| Sheridan County, WY | 72 |
Frequently asked questions
Where do people moving to Billings come from?
Most people moving into Yellowstone County, MT come from nearby counties, led by Gallatin County, MT (350 people). The biggest source more than 100 miles away is Gallatin County, MT.
Where do people leaving Billings move to?
The top destination is Gallatin County, MT (301 people). Farther away, the most popular is Gallatin County, MT.
Are more people moving to Billings or leaving?
Between the 2022 and 2023 tax years, 6,803 people moved into Yellowstone County, MT from elsewhere in the US and 6,370 moved out, a net gain of 433 (IRS data, not counting moves from abroad).
Thinking about the move yourself? Compare Billings with any city it trades people with, like Billings vs Bozeman, Billings vs Phoenix, Billings vs Missoula, Billings vs Las Vegas.
Source: IRS Statistics of Income, county-to-county migration data for filing years 2022 to 2023, the latest available. Counts are people (the number of personal exemptions, which the IRS uses to approximate individuals): tax filers plus dependents whose address moved to a different county between the two filing years. People who do not file returns are not counted, and the IRS hides very small flows to protect privacy. Figures are for the whole county, not just the city of Billings.