Head-to-Head · City Comparison
College Station, TX
VS
Gilbert, AZ
🏆 Gilbert leads 15 of 22 categories
College Station
Texas
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$52,397
Violent Crime Index
45
Population
120,451
Gilbert
Arizona
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$115,179 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
35 ✓ Safer
Population
267,267 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
College Station, TX
Pros
Rent averages $710/mo less ($1,129 vs $1,839)
Homes cost $149k less ($305,800 vs $454,300)
Violent crime is well below the national average (170.5 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Gilbert
More college-educated — 58.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Gilbert by $62,782/yr
Higher unemployment (4.7% vs 3.5%)
Gilbert, AZ
Pros
Households earn $62,782 more per year on average
22% less violent crime than College Station
Violent crime is well below the national average (132.2 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (3.5%)
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,839/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $454,300
Cost of living runs 12% higher than College Station
Hot summers — July highs average 104°F
Key Differences at a Glance
College Station
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 90.7 vs 102.5 (100 = US avg)
College Station
Median Home Value
$149k less
$305,800 vs $454,300
Gilbert
Median Income
$62,782
$115,179 vs $52,397/yr
Gilbert
Violent Crime
22% lower
132.2 vs 170.5 per 100k
Gilbert
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
3.5% vs 4.7% unemployment
Gilbert
Summer Heat
8.8°F warmer
July avg high 104.2°F vs 95.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | College Station, TX | Gilbert, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.7 ✓ Cheaper | 102.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $305,800⚠ High ✓ Lower | $454,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,129 ✓ Lower | $1,839⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $52,397 | $115,179 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High | 3.5% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 16.9 min ✓ Shorter | 26.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 11.3% | 20.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 48 | 39 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 45 | 35 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 53 | 46 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (129) ✓ Better | A- (110) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 58.3% ✓ Higher | 47.1% |
| High School or Higher | 95.3% | 96.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | COLLEGE STATION ISD | Gilbert Unified District (4239) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 61.7°F | 65.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 95.4°F | 104.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.2" | 8.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 120,451 | 267,267 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 22.9 | 35.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 36.3% | 74.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.5% | 29.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 6.8% | 10.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
College Station's cost of living index is 90.7 vs Gilbert's 102.5 (US average = 100).
College Station is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Gilbert leads 15 of 22 categories. College Station wins 7 and Gilbert wins 15. 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 Gilbert or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($305,800 vs $454,300 median home), income ($52,397 vs $115,179), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
College Station, TX and Gilbert, AZ are about 924 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.