Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chattanooga, TN
VS
College Station, TX
🏆 College Station leads 14 of 22 categories
Chattanooga
Tennessee
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.8
Median Household Income
$57,703 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
217⚠ High
Population
181,288 ✓ Larger
College Station
Texas
14
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.
Chattanooga, TN
Pros
Homes cost $75k less ($230,500 vs $305,800)
Households earn $5,306 more per year on average
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.8)
Cons
Violent crime (823.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3942.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 2% higher than College Station
College Station, TX
Pros
79% less violent crime than Chattanooga
Violent crime is well below the national average (170.5 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 58.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.7)
Milder winters — January highs near 62°F vs 51°F
2% cheaper overall cost of living than Chattanooga
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $305,800
Median income trails Chattanooga by $5,306/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Chattanooga
Median Income
$5,306
$57,703 vs $52,397/yr
Chattanooga
Median Home Value
$75k less
$230,500 vs $305,800
College Station
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 90.7 vs 92.8 (100 = US avg)
College Station
Violent Crime
79% lower
170.5 vs 823.7 per 100k
College Station
Summer Heat
4.9°F warmer
July avg high 95.4°F vs 90.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chattanooga, TN | College Station, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.8 | 90.7 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $230,500 ✓ Lower | $305,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,066 ✓ Lower | $1,129 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $57,703 ✓ Higher | $52,397 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.1%⚠ High | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.2 min | 16.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.4% | 11.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 205⚠ High | 48 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 217⚠ High | 45 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 188⚠ High | 53 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) | A (129) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 14.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.1% | 58.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.0% | 95.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Hamilton County | COLLEGE STATION ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.0°F | 61.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.5°F | 95.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 55.0" | 46.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.6" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 181,288 ✓ Larger | 120,451 |
| Median Age | 37.0 ✓ Older | 22.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.4% ✓ Higher | 36.3% |
| Under 18 | 20.0% ✓ More | 16.5% |
| Over 65 | 17.2% ✓ More | 6.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chattanooga's cost of living index is 92.8 vs College Station's 90.7 (US average = 100).
College Station is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, College Station leads 14 of 22 categories. Chattanooga wins 8 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 Chattanooga to College Station or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($230,500 vs $305,800 median home), income ($57,703 vs $52,397), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chattanooga, TN and College Station, TX are about 712 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.