Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Arden-Arcade, CA
VS
College Station, TX
🏆 College Station leads 15 of 22 categories
Arden-Arcade
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,479 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
136⚠ High
Population
96,076
College Station
Texas
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$52,397
Violent Crime Index
45 ✓ Safer
Population
120,451 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Arden-Arcade, CA
Pros
Households earn $12,082 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $466,300
Violent crime (518.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,385/mo
Cost of living runs 18% higher than College Station
College Station, TX
Pros
67% less violent crime than Arden-Arcade
Homes cost $161k less ($305,800 vs $466,300)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.4 pts lower (4.7%)
Rent averages $256/mo less ($1,129 vs $1,385)
18% cheaper overall cost of living than Arden-Arcade
Violent crime is well below the national average (170.5 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Median income trails Arden-Arcade by $12,082/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Arden-Arcade
Median Income
$12,082
$64,479 vs $52,397/yr
College Station
Cost of Living
18% cheaper
COL index 90.7 vs 108.9 (100 = US avg)
College Station
Violent Crime
67% lower
170.5 vs 518.1 per 100k
College Station
Median Home Value
$161k less
$305,800 vs $466,300
College Station
Unemployment
3.4 pp lower
4.7% vs 8.1% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Arden-Arcade, CA | College Station, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.9⚠ High | 90.7 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $466,300⚠ High | $305,800⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,385⚠ High | $1,129 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,479 ✓ Higher | $52,397 |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.1%⚠ High | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.4 min | 16.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.9% ✓ Higher | 11.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 119⚠ High | 48 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 136⚠ High | 45 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 | 53 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | A (129) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.6:1 | 14.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.3% | 58.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.9% | 95.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | San Juan Unified | COLLEGE STATION ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.5°F | 61.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 94.4°F | 95.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 21.5" ✓ Drier | 46.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 96,076 | 120,451 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.0 ✓ Older | 22.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.9% ✓ Higher | 36.3% |
| Under 18 | 22.8% ✓ More | 16.5% |
| Over 65 | 16.6% ✓ More | 6.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Arden-Arcade's cost of living index is 108.9 vs College Station's 90.7 (US average = 100).
College Station is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, College Station leads 15 of 22 categories. Arden-Arcade wins 7 and College Station wins 15. 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 Arden-Arcade to College Station or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($466,300 vs $305,800 median home), income ($64,479 vs $52,397), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Arden-Arcade, CA and College Station, TX are about 1,525 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.