Head-to-Head · City Comparison
College Station, TX
VS
Phoenix, AZ
🏆 College Station leads 13 of 23 categories
College Station
Texas
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$52,397
Violent Crime Index
45 ✓ Safer
Population
120,451
Phoenix
Arizona
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4
Median Household Income
$72,092 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
210⚠ High
Population
1,609,456 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
College Station, TX
Pros
79% less violent crime than Phoenix
More college-educated — 58.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (170.5 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Rent averages $193/mo less ($1,129 vs $1,322)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (4.7%)
Cons
Median income trails Phoenix by $19,695/yr
Phoenix, AZ
Pros
Households earn $19,695 more per year on average
Cons
Violent crime (799.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $340,200
Hot summers — July highs average 104°F
Cost of living runs 8% higher than College Station
Key Differences at a Glance
College Station
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 90.7 vs 98.4 (100 = US avg)
College Station
Violent Crime
79% lower
170.5 vs 799.6 per 100k
College Station
Median Home Value
$34k less
$305,800 vs $340,200
College Station
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
4.7% vs 5.2% unemployment
Phoenix
Median Income
$19,695
$72,092 vs $52,397/yr
Phoenix
Summer Heat
8.6°F warmer
July avg high 104.0°F vs 95.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | College Station, TX | Phoenix, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.7 ✓ Cheaper | 98.4 |
| Median Home Value | $305,800⚠ High ✓ Lower | $340,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,129 ✓ Lower | $1,322 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $52,397 | $72,092 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 16.9 min ✓ Shorter | 25.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 11.3% | 14.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 48 ✓ Safer | 171⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 45 ✓ Safer | 210⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 53 ✓ Safer | 111⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (129) ✓ Better | B (98) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 58.3% ✓ Higher | 31.2% |
| High School or Higher | 95.3% ✓ Higher | 83.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | COLLEGE STATION ISD | Paradise Valley Unified District (4241) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 61.7°F | 65.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 95.4°F | 104.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.2" | 8.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 0.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 120,451 | 1,609,456 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 22.9 | 34.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 36.3% | 56.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.5% | 24.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 6.8% | 11.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
College Station's cost of living index is 90.7 vs Phoenix's 98.4 (US average = 100).
College Station is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, College Station leads 13 of 23 categories. College Station wins 13 and Phoenix wins 10. 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 Phoenix or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($305,800 vs $340,200 median home), income ($52,397 vs $72,092), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
College Station, TX and Phoenix, AZ are about 946 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.