Head-to-Head · City Comparison
College Station, TX
VS
Grand Rapids, MI
🏆 College Station leads 15 of 23 categories
College Station
Texas
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$52,397
Violent Crime Index
45 ✓ Safer
Population
120,451
Grand Rapids
Michigan
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.2
Median Household Income
$61,634 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
240⚠ High
Population
198,096 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
College Station, TX
Pros
81% less violent crime than Grand Rapids
Violent crime is well below the national average (170.5 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 58.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 62°F vs 31°F
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (4.7%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.7)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $305,800
Median income trails Grand Rapids by $9,237/yr
Grand Rapids, MI
Pros
Homes cost $102k less ($203,900 vs $305,800)
Households earn $9,237 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 95°F
Cons
Violent crime (910.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2480.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.6% vs 4.7%)
Snowy winters — about 75" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
College Station
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 90.7 vs 95.2 (100 = US avg)
College Station
Violent Crime
81% lower
170.5 vs 910.1 per 100k
College Station
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
4.7% vs 5.6% unemployment
College Station
Summer Heat
13.0°F warmer
July avg high 95.4°F vs 82.4°F
Grand Rapids
Median Income
$9,237
$61,634 vs $52,397/yr
Grand Rapids
Median Home Value
$102k less
$203,900 vs $305,800
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | College Station, TX | Grand Rapids, MI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.7 ✓ Cheaper | 95.2 |
| Median Home Value | $305,800⚠ High | $203,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,129 ✓ Lower | $1,138 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $52,397 | $61,634 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 16.9 min ✓ Shorter | 19.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 11.3% ✓ Higher | 10.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 48 ✓ Safer | 191⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 45 ✓ Safer | 240⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 53 ✓ Safer | 118⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (129) ✓ Better | B (100) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 58.3% ✓ Higher | 39.3% |
| High School or Higher | 95.3% ✓ Higher | 89.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | COLLEGE STATION ISD | Grand Rapids Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 61.7°F ✓ Warmer | 30.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.4°F ✓ Warmer | 82.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.2" | 39.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 74.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 120,451 | 198,096 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 22.9 | 31.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 36.3% | 54.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.5% | 21.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 6.8% | 12.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
College Station's cost of living index is 90.7 vs Grand Rapids's 95.2 (US average = 100).
College Station is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, College Station leads 15 of 23 categories. College Station wins 15 and Grand Rapids wins 8. 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 Grand Rapids or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($305,800 vs $203,900 median home), income ($52,397 vs $61,634), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
College Station, TX and Grand Rapids, MI are about 1,036 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.