Head-to-Head · City Comparison
College Station, TX
VS
Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY
🏆 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
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Kentucky
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.1
Median Household Income
$66,087 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
69
Population
321,276 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
College Station, TX
Pros
35% less violent crime than Lexington-Fayette urban county
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 42°F
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.7)
Cons
Median income trails Lexington-Fayette urban county by $13,690/yr
Pricier housing — median home is $305,800
Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY
Pros
Households earn $13,690 more per year on average
Homes cost $58k less ($247,900 vs $305,800)
Violent crime is well below the national average (262.0 vs 380/100k)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.1)
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 95°F
Cons
Cost of living runs 2% higher than College Station
Key Differences at a Glance
College Station
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 90.7 vs 93.1 (100 = US avg)
College Station
Violent Crime
35% lower
170.5 vs 262.0 per 100k
College Station
Summer Heat
8.5°F warmer
July avg high 95.4°F vs 86.9°F
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Median Income
$13,690
$66,087 vs $52,397/yr
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Median Home Value
$58k less
$247,900 vs $305,800
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | College Station, TX | Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.7 ✓ Cheaper | 93.1 |
| Median Home Value | $305,800⚠ High | $247,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,129 | $1,065 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $52,397 | $66,087 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 16.9 min ✓ Shorter | 20.8 min |
| Work From Home % | 11.3% ✓ Higher | 9.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 48 ✓ Safer | 85 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 45 ✓ Safer | 69 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 53 ✓ Safer | 108⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (129) ✓ Better | A- (114) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 58.3% ✓ Higher | 46.5% |
| High School or Higher | 95.3% ✓ Higher | 92.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | COLLEGE STATION ISD | Fayette County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 61.7°F ✓ Warmer | 42.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.4°F ✓ Warmer | 86.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.2" ✓ Drier | 49.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 14.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 120,451 | 321,276 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 22.9 | 35.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 36.3% | 54.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.5% | 20.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 6.8% | 14.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
College Station's cost of living index is 90.7 vs Lexington-Fayette urban county's 93.1 (US average = 100).
College Station is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, College Station leads 14 of 23 categories. College Station wins 14 and Lexington-Fayette urban county 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 Lexington-Fayette urban county or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($305,800 vs $247,900 median home), income ($52,397 vs $66,087), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
College Station, TX and Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY are about 848 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.
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