Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Boca Raton, FL
VS
College Station, TX
🏆 College Station leads 13 of 22 categories
Boca Raton
Florida
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$95,570 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
45
Population
97,980
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 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Boca Raton, FL
Pros
Households earn $43,173 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (171.0 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 76°F vs 62°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $597,100
Higher rents — median is $2,170/mo
Cost of living runs 21% higher than College Station
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
College Station, TX
Pros
Homes cost $291k less ($305,800 vs $597,100)
Rent averages $1041/mo less ($1,129 vs $2,170)
21% cheaper overall cost of living than Boca Raton
Violent crime is well below the national average (170.5 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (4.7%)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Boca Raton by $43,173/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Boca Raton
Median Income
$43,173
$95,570 vs $52,397/yr
College Station
Cost of Living
21% cheaper
COL index 90.7 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
College Station
Median Home Value
$291k less
$305,800 vs $597,100
College Station
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
4.7% vs 5.9% unemployment
College Station
Summer Heat
4.9°F warmer
July avg high 95.4°F vs 90.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Boca Raton, FL | College Station, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.8⚠ High | 90.7 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $597,100⚠ High | $305,800⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,170⚠ High | $1,129 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $95,570 ✓ Higher | $52,397 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.6 min | 16.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 18.0% ✓ Higher | 11.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 59 | 48 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 45 | 45 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 80 | 53 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) | A (129) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.4:1 | 14.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 59.0% ✓ Higher | 58.3% |
| High School or Higher | 96.0% ✓ Higher | 95.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | PALM BEACH | COLLEGE STATION ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 76.3°F ✓ Warmer | 61.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.5°F | 95.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 65.6" | 46.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 97,980 | 120,451 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 47.1 ✓ Older | 22.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 65.7% ✓ Higher | 36.3% |
| Under 18 | 17.0% ✓ More | 16.5% |
| Over 65 | 25.7% ✓ More | 6.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Boca Raton's cost of living index is 111.8 vs College Station's 90.7 (US average = 100).
College Station is 21% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, College Station leads 13 of 22 categories. Boca Raton wins 9 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 Boca Raton to College Station or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($597,100 vs $305,800 median home), income ($95,570 vs $52,397), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Boca Raton, FL and College Station, TX are about 1,024 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.