Head-to-Head · City Comparison
College Station, TX
VS
Houston, TX
🏆 College Station leads 14 of 22 categories
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
Houston
Texas
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$60,440 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
302⚠ High
Population
2,296,253 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
College Station, TX
Pros
85% less violent crime than Houston
Violent crime is well below the national average (170.5 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.9 pts lower (4.7%)
More college-educated — 58.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Houston
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $305,800
Median income trails Houston by $8,043/yr
Houston, TX
Pros
Homes cost $71k less ($235,000 vs $305,800)
Households earn $8,043 more per year on average
Cons
Violent crime (1148.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4293.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.6% vs 4.7%)
Cost of living runs 10% higher than College Station
Key Differences at a Glance
College Station
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 90.7 vs 100.2 (100 = US avg)
College Station
Violent Crime
85% lower
170.5 vs 1148.2 per 100k
College Station
Unemployment
1.9 pp lower
4.7% vs 6.6% unemployment
Houston
Median Income
$8,043
$60,440 vs $52,397/yr
Houston
Median Home Value
$71k less
$235,000 vs $305,800
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | College Station, TX | Houston, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.7 ✓ Cheaper | 100.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $305,800⚠ High | $235,000 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,129 ✓ Lower | $1,235 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $52,397 | $60,440 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 16.9 min ✓ Shorter | 27.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 11.3% ✓ Higher | 9.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 48 ✓ Safer | 263⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 45 ✓ Safer | 302⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 53 ✓ Safer | 204⚠ 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 | 16.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 58.3% ✓ Higher | 35.2% |
| High School or Higher | 95.3% ✓ Higher | 79.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | COLLEGE STATION ISD | HOUSTON ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 61.7°F | 62.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 95.4°F ✓ Warmer | 93.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.2" ✓ Drier | 55.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 120,451 | 2,296,253 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 22.9 | 33.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 36.3% | 42.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.5% | 23.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 6.8% | 11.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
College Station's cost of living index is 90.7 vs Houston's 100.2 (US average = 100).
College Station is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, College Station leads 14 of 22 categories. College Station wins 14 and Houston 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 Houston or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($305,800 vs $235,000 median home), income ($52,397 vs $60,440), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
College Station, TX and Houston, TX are about 77 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.