Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Beaumont, TX
VS
College Station, TX
🏆 College Station leads 14 of 23 categories
Beaumont
Texas
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.2 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$53,745 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
299⚠ High
Population
114,573
College Station
Texas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.7
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.
Beaumont, TX
Pros
Homes cost $155k less ($150,400 vs $305,800)
Rent averages $137/mo less ($992 vs $1,129)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.2)
Cons
Violent crime (1137.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3302.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
College Station, TX
Pros
85% less violent crime than Beaumont
More college-educated — 58.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (170.5 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (4.7%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.7)
Smaller class sizes — 14.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $305,800
Key Differences at a Glance
Beaumont
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 90.2 vs 90.7 (100 = US avg)
Beaumont
Median Income
$1,348
$53,745 vs $52,397/yr
Beaumont
Median Home Value
$155k less
$150,400 vs $305,800
College Station
Violent Crime
85% lower
170.5 vs 1137.3 per 100k
College Station
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
4.7% vs 5.3% unemployment
College Station
Summer Heat
3.4°F warmer
July avg high 95.4°F vs 92.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Beaumont, TX | College Station, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.2 ✓ Cheaper | 90.7 |
| Median Home Value | $150,400 ✓ Lower | $305,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $992 ✓ Lower | $1,129 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $53,745 ✓ Higher | $52,397 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.3%⚠ High | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.7 min | 16.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 3.6% | 11.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 242⚠ High | 48 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 299⚠ High | 45 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 157⚠ High | 53 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (85) | A (129) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.9:1 | 14.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 25.8% | 58.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.2% | 95.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | BEAUMONT ISD | COLLEGE STATION ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 62.6°F ✓ Warmer | 61.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.0°F | 95.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 65.1" | 46.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,573 | 120,451 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.5 ✓ Older | 22.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.4% ✓ Higher | 36.3% |
| Under 18 | 24.7% ✓ More | 16.5% |
| Over 65 | 15.9% ✓ More | 6.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Beaumont's cost of living index is 90.2 vs College Station's 90.7 (US average = 100).
Beaumont is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, College Station leads 14 of 23 categories. Beaumont wins 9 and College Station wins 14. 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 Beaumont to College Station or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($150,400 vs $305,800 median home), income ($53,745 vs $52,397), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Beaumont, TX and College Station, TX are about 133 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.