Head-to-Head · City Comparison
College Station, TX
VS
Pittsburgh, PA
🏆 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
Pittsburgh
Pennsylvania
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.4
Median Household Income
$60,187 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
112⚠ High
Population
303,843 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
College Station, TX
Pros
60% less violent crime than Pittsburgh
Violent crime is well below the national average (170.5 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (4.7%)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 62°F vs 37°F
More college-educated — 58.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $305,800
Median income trails Pittsburgh by $7,790/yr
Pittsburgh, PA
Pros
Homes cost $134k less ($171,800 vs $305,800)
Households earn $7,790 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 95°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.4)
Smaller class sizes — 11.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Higher unemployment (5.7% vs 4.7%)
Snowy winters — about 44" of snow per year
Cost of living runs 4% higher than College Station
Key Differences at a Glance
College Station
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 90.7 vs 94.4 (100 = US avg)
College Station
Violent Crime
60% lower
170.5 vs 427.2 per 100k
College Station
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
4.7% vs 5.7% unemployment
College Station
Summer Heat
12.4°F warmer
July avg high 95.4°F vs 83.0°F
Pittsburgh
Median Income
$7,790
$60,187 vs $52,397/yr
Pittsburgh
Median Home Value
$134k less
$171,800 vs $305,800
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | College Station, TX | Pittsburgh, PA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.7 ✓ Cheaper | 94.4 |
| Median Home Value | $305,800⚠ High | $171,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,129 ✓ Lower | $1,153 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $52,397 | $60,187 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 16.9 min ✓ Shorter | 23.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 11.3% | 17.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 48 ✓ Safer | 111⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 45 ✓ Safer | 112⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 53 ✓ Safer | 109⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (129) ✓ Better | A- (115) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 | 11.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 58.3% ✓ Higher | 46.7% |
| High School or Higher | 95.3% ✓ Higher | 93.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | COLLEGE STATION ISD | Pittsburgh SD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 61.7°F ✓ Warmer | 36.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.4°F ✓ Warmer | 83.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.2" | 41.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 44.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 120,451 | 303,843 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 22.9 | 33.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 36.3% | 47.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.5% ✓ More | 14.6% |
| Over 65 | 6.8% | 15.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
College Station's cost of living index is 90.7 vs Pittsburgh's 94.4 (US average = 100).
College Station is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, College Station leads 14 of 23 categories. College Station wins 14 and Pittsburgh 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 Pittsburgh or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($305,800 vs $171,800 median home), income ($52,397 vs $60,187), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
College Station, TX and Pittsburgh, PA are about 1,140 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.