Head-to-Head · City Comparison
College Station, TX
VS
Lakewood, CO
🏆 College Station leads 14 of 23 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
Lakewood
Colorado
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$82,786 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
207⚠ High
Population
156,149 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
College Station, TX
Pros
78% less violent crime than Lakewood
Homes cost $188k less ($305,800 vs $494,100)
Rent averages $536/mo less ($1,129 vs $1,665)
Violent crime is well below the national average (170.5 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Lakewood
Cons
Median income trails Lakewood by $30,389/yr
Lakewood, CO
Pros
Households earn $30,389 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 95°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $494,100
Higher rents — median is $1,665/mo
Violent crime (787.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 15% higher than College Station
Key Differences at a Glance
College Station
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 90.7 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
College Station
Violent Crime
78% lower
170.5 vs 787.2 per 100k
College Station
Median Home Value
$188k less
$305,800 vs $494,100
College Station
Summer Heat
9.5°F warmer
July avg high 95.4°F vs 85.9°F
Lakewood
Median Income
$30,389
$82,786 vs $52,397/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | College Station, TX | Lakewood, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.7 ✓ Cheaper | 105.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $305,800⚠ High ✓ Lower | $494,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,129 ✓ Lower | $1,665⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $52,397 | $82,786 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 16.9 min ✓ Shorter | 27.0 min |
| Work From Home % | 11.3% | 16.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 48 ✓ Safer | 221⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 45 ✓ Safer | 207⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 53 ✓ Safer | 243⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (129) ✓ Better | B+ (105) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 58.3% ✓ Higher | 44.4% |
| High School or Higher | 95.3% ✓ Higher | 93.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | COLLEGE STATION ISD | Jefferson County School District No. R-1 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 61.7°F ✓ Warmer | 44.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.4°F ✓ Warmer | 85.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.2" | 17.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 58.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 120,451 | 156,149 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 22.9 | 38.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 36.3% | 58.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.5% | 16.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 6.8% | 17.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
College Station's cost of living index is 90.7 vs Lakewood's 105.5 (US average = 100).
College Station is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, College Station leads 14 of 23 categories. College Station wins 14 and Lakewood wins 9. 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 Lakewood or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($305,800 vs $494,100 median home), income ($52,397 vs $82,786), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
College Station, TX and Lakewood, CO are about 802 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.