Head-to-Head · City Comparison
College Station, TX
VS
Overland Park, KS
🏆 Overland Park 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 ✓ Safer
Population
120,451
Overland Park
Kansas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3
Median Household Income
$100,876 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
49
Population
196,676 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
College Station, TX
Pros
Rent averages $249/mo less ($1,129 vs $1,378)
Violent crime is well below the national average (170.5 vs 380/100k)
Homes cost $56k less ($305,800 vs $361,800)
Milder winters — January highs near 62°F vs 39°F
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.7)
Cons
Median income trails Overland Park by $48,479/yr
Higher unemployment (4.7% vs 3.2%)
Overland Park, KS
Pros
Households earn $48,479 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (184.4 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (3.2%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.3)
More college-educated — 62.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 88°F vs 95°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,378/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $361,800
Cost of living runs 3% higher than College Station
Key Differences at a Glance
College Station
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 90.7 vs 93.3 (100 = US avg)
College Station
Violent Crime
8% lower
170.5 vs 184.4 per 100k
College Station
Median Home Value
$56k less
$305,800 vs $361,800
College Station
Summer Heat
7.2°F warmer
July avg high 95.4°F vs 88.2°F
Overland Park
Median Income
$48,479
$100,876 vs $52,397/yr
Overland Park
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
3.2% vs 4.7% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | College Station, TX | Overland Park, KS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.7 ✓ Cheaper | 93.3 |
| Median Home Value | $305,800⚠ High ✓ Lower | $361,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,129 ✓ Lower | $1,378⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $52,397 | $100,876 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High | 3.2% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 16.9 min ✓ Shorter | 19.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 11.3% | 19.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 48 ✓ Safer | 63 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 45 ✓ Safer | 49 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 53 ✓ Safer | 84 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (129) ✓ Better | A (125) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 | 13.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 58.3% | 62.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 95.3% | 97.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | COLLEGE STATION ISD | Blue Valley |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 61.7°F ✓ Warmer | 38.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.4°F ✓ Warmer | 88.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.2" | 40.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 13.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 120,451 | 196,676 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 22.9 | 38.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 36.3% | 62.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.5% | 22.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 6.8% | 16.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
College Station's cost of living index is 90.7 vs Overland Park's 93.3 (US average = 100).
College Station is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Overland Park leads 12 of 23 categories. College Station wins 11 and Overland Park 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 Overland Park or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($305,800 vs $361,800 median home), income ($52,397 vs $100,876), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
College Station, TX and Overland Park, KS are about 581 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.