Head-to-Head · City Comparison
College Station, TX
VS
Columbia, MD
🏆 It's a dead heat — 10 categories each
College Station
Texas
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$52,397
Violent Crime Index
45
Population
120,451 ✓ Larger
Columbia
Maryland
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.7⚠ High
Median Household Income
$124,537 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
106,600
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
College Station, TX
Pros
Rent averages $766/mo less ($1,129 vs $1,895)
Homes cost $153k less ($305,800 vs $458,700)
Commutes run 13 min shorter each way
Violent crime is well below the national average (170.5 vs 380/100k)
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Columbia
Milder winters — January highs near 62°F vs 43°F
Cons
Median income trails Columbia by $72,140/yr
Higher unemployment (4.7% vs 4.0%)
Columbia, MD
Pros
Households earn $72,140 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (4.0%)
More college-educated — 63.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 89°F vs 95°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,895/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $458,700
Cost of living runs 12% higher than College Station
Longer commutes — 29.6 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
College Station
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 90.7 vs 102.7 (100 = US avg)
College Station
Median Home Value
$153k less
$305,800 vs $458,700
College Station
Summer Heat
6.8°F warmer
July avg high 95.4°F vs 88.6°F
Columbia
Median Income
$72,140
$124,537 vs $52,397/yr
Columbia
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
4.0% vs 4.7% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | College Station, TX | Columbia, MD |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.7 ✓ Cheaper | 102.7⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $305,800⚠ High ✓ Lower | $458,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,129 ✓ Lower | $1,895⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $52,397 | $124,537 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High | 4.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 16.9 min ✓ Shorter | 29.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 11.3% | 18.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 48 | — |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 45 | — |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 53 | — |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (129) ✓ Better | A (123) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 | 13.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 58.3% | 63.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 95.3% | 95.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | COLLEGE STATION ISD | Howard County Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 61.7°F ✓ Warmer | 42.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.4°F ✓ Warmer | 88.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.2" ✓ Drier | 49.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 28.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 120,451 ✓ Larger | 106,600 |
| Median Age | 22.9 | 38.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 36.3% | 64.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.5% | 21.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 6.8% | 16.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
College Station's cost of living index is 90.7 vs Columbia's 102.7 (US average = 100).
College Station is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 10 categories each. College Station wins 10 and Columbia wins 10. 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 College Station to Columbia or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($305,800 vs $458,700 median home), income ($52,397 vs $124,537), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
College Station, TX and Columbia, MD are about 1,248 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.