Head-to-Head · City Comparison
College Station, TX
VS
Hoover, AL
🏆 Hoover leads 12 of 23 categories
College Station
Texas
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$52,397
Violent Crime Index
45
Population
120,451 ✓ Larger
Hoover
Alabama
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.6
Median Household Income
$101,765 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
21 ✓ Safer
Population
91,995
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
College Station, TX
Pros
Violent crime is well below the national average (170.5 vs 380/100k)
Rent averages $223/mo less ($1,129 vs $1,352)
Homes cost $60k less ($305,800 vs $366,200)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.7)
Milder winters — January highs near 62°F vs 55°F
Cons
Median income trails Hoover by $49,368/yr
Higher unemployment (4.7% vs 3.9%)
Hoover, AL
Pros
Households earn $49,368 more per year on average
54% less violent crime than College Station
Violent crime is well below the national average (78.0 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (3.9%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.6)
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,352/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $366,200
Key Differences at a Glance
College Station
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 90.7 vs 92.6 (100 = US avg)
College Station
Median Home Value
$60k less
$305,800 vs $366,200
College Station
Summer Heat
3.2°F warmer
July avg high 95.4°F vs 92.2°F
Hoover
Median Income
$49,368
$101,765 vs $52,397/yr
Hoover
Violent Crime
54% lower
78.0 vs 170.5 per 100k
Hoover
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
3.9% vs 4.7% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | College Station, TX | Hoover, AL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.7 ✓ Cheaper | 92.6 |
| Median Home Value | $305,800⚠ High ✓ Lower | $366,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,129 ✓ Lower | $1,352⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $52,397 | $101,765 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High | 3.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 16.9 min ✓ Shorter | 25.0 min |
| Work From Home % | 11.3% | 12.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 48 | 36 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 45 | 21 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 53 ✓ Safer | 60 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (129) ✓ Better | A (122) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 | 14.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 58.3% | 60.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 95.3% | 96.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | COLLEGE STATION ISD | Hoover City |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 61.7°F ✓ Warmer | 54.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.4°F ✓ Warmer | 92.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.2" ✓ Drier | 59.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 1.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 120,451 ✓ Larger | 91,995 |
| Median Age | 22.9 | 38.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 36.3% | 69.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.5% | 24.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 6.8% | 16.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
College Station's cost of living index is 90.7 vs Hoover's 92.6 (US average = 100).
College Station is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Hoover leads 12 of 23 categories. College Station wins 11 and Hoover wins 12. 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 Hoover or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($305,800 vs $366,200 median home), income ($52,397 vs $101,765), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
College Station, TX and Hoover, AL are about 588 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.