Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Albuquerque, NM
VS
College Station, TX
🏆 College Station leads 13 of 23 categories
Albuquerque
New Mexico
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.0
Median Household Income
$61,503 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
311⚠ High
Population
562,551 ✓ Larger
College Station
Texas
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$52,397
Violent Crime Index
45 ✓ Safer
Population
120,451
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Albuquerque, NM
Pros
Homes cost $60k less ($246,000 vs $305,800)
Households earn $9,106 more per year on average
Rent averages $115/mo less ($1,014 vs $1,129)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.0)
Smaller class sizes — 12.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (1181.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4628.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.5% vs 4.7%)
Cost of living runs 2% higher than College Station
College Station, TX
Pros
86% less violent crime than Albuquerque
Violent crime is well below the national average (170.5 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 58.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (4.7%)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.7)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $305,800
Median income trails Albuquerque by $9,106/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Albuquerque
Median Income
$9,106
$61,503 vs $52,397/yr
Albuquerque
Median Home Value
$60k less
$246,000 vs $305,800
College Station
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 90.7 vs 93.0 (100 = US avg)
College Station
Violent Crime
86% lower
170.5 vs 1181.8 per 100k
College Station
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
4.7% vs 5.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Albuquerque, NM | College Station, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.0 | 90.7 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $246,000 ✓ Lower | $305,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,014 ✓ Lower | $1,129 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $61,503 ✓ Higher | $52,397 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.1 min | 16.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.0% | 11.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 275⚠ High | 48 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 311⚠ High | 45 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 220⚠ High | 53 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) | A (129) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.8% | 58.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.7% | 95.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ALBUQUERQUE | COLLEGE STATION ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.9°F | 61.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 94.9°F | 95.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.3" ✓ Drier | 46.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 7.9" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 562,551 ✓ Larger | 120,451 |
| Median Age | 38.0 ✓ Older | 22.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.7% ✓ Higher | 36.3% |
| Under 18 | 21.0% ✓ More | 16.5% |
| Over 65 | 16.6% ✓ More | 6.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Albuquerque's cost of living index is 93.0 vs College Station's 90.7 (US average = 100).
College Station is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, College Station leads 13 of 23 categories. Albuquerque wins 10 and College Station wins 13. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Albuquerque to College Station or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($246,000 vs $305,800 median home), income ($61,503 vs $52,397), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Albuquerque, NM and College Station, TX are about 677 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.