Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Arvada, CO
VS
College Station, TX
🏆 College Station leads 13 of 23 categories
Arvada
Colorado
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$106,014 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
75
Population
123,066 ✓ 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.
Arvada, CO
Pros
Households earn $53,617 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (3.8%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 88°F vs 95°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $553,000
Higher rents — median is $1,706/mo
Cost of living runs 15% higher than College Station
Property crime (2478.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
College Station, TX
Pros
Homes cost $247k less ($305,800 vs $553,000)
Rent averages $577/mo less ($1,129 vs $1,706)
40% less violent crime than Arvada
Violent crime is well below the national average (170.5 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Arvada
Cons
Median income trails Arvada by $53,617/yr
Higher unemployment (4.7% vs 3.8%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Arvada
Median Income
$53,617
$106,014 vs $52,397/yr
Arvada
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
3.8% vs 4.7% unemployment
College Station
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 90.7 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
College Station
Violent Crime
40% lower
170.5 vs 285.6 per 100k
College Station
Median Home Value
$247k less
$305,800 vs $553,000
College Station
Summer Heat
7.2°F warmer
July avg high 95.4°F vs 88.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Arvada, CO | College Station, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High | 90.7 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $553,000⚠ High | $305,800⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,706⚠ High | $1,129 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $106,014 ✓ Higher | $52,397 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 4.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.9 min | 16.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 18.7% ✓ Higher | 11.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 92 | 48 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 75 | 45 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 118⚠ High | 53 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) | A (129) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.7:1 | 14.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 47.6% | 58.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 95.4% ✓ Higher | 95.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Jefferson County School District No. R-1 | COLLEGE STATION ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.2°F | 61.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.2°F | 95.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.9" ✓ Drier | 46.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 54.8" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 123,066 ✓ Larger | 120,451 |
| Median Age | 40.2 ✓ Older | 22.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 74.2% ✓ Higher | 36.3% |
| Under 18 | 20.1% ✓ More | 16.5% |
| Over 65 | 17.5% ✓ More | 6.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Arvada's cost of living index is 105.5 vs College Station's 90.7 (US average = 100).
College Station is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, College Station leads 13 of 23 categories. Arvada 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 Arvada to College Station or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($553,000 vs $305,800 median home), income ($106,014 vs $52,397), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Arvada, CO and College Station, TX are about 810 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.