Head-to-Head · City Comparison
College Station, TX
VS
Portland, OR
🏆 College Station leads 15 of 23 categories
College Station
Texas
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$52,397
Violent Crime Index
45 ✓ Safer
Population
120,451
Portland
Oregon
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$85,876 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
190⚠ High
Population
646,101 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
College Station, TX
Pros
Homes cost $217k less ($305,800 vs $523,100)
76% less violent crime than Portland
Rent averages $401/mo less ($1,129 vs $1,530)
Violent crime is well below the national average (170.5 vs 380/100k)
16% cheaper overall cost of living than Portland
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Portland by $33,479/yr
Portland, OR
Pros
Households earn $33,479 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 80°F vs 95°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $523,100
Higher rents — median is $1,530/mo
Violent crime (720.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 16% higher than College Station
Key Differences at a Glance
College Station
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 90.7 vs 106.6 (100 = US avg)
College Station
Violent Crime
76% lower
170.5 vs 720.1 per 100k
College Station
Median Home Value
$217k less
$305,800 vs $523,100
College Station
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
4.7% vs 5.6% unemployment
College Station
Summer Heat
15.1°F warmer
July avg high 95.4°F vs 80.3°F
Portland
Median Income
$33,479
$85,876 vs $52,397/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | College Station, TX | Portland, OR |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.7 ✓ Cheaper | 106.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $305,800⚠ High ✓ Lower | $523,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,129 ✓ Lower | $1,530⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $52,397 | $85,876 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 16.9 min ✓ Shorter | 24.8 min |
| Work From Home % | 11.3% | 22.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 48 ✓ Safer | 219⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 45 ✓ Safer | 190⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 53 ✓ Safer | 263⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (129) ✓ Better | A- (112) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 58.3% ✓ Higher | 52.5% |
| High School or Higher | 95.3% ✓ Higher | 93.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | COLLEGE STATION ISD | Portland SD 1J |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 61.7°F ✓ Warmer | 46.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.4°F ✓ Warmer | 80.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.2" | 44.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 3.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 120,451 | 646,101 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 22.9 | 38.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 36.3% | 53.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.5% | 16.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 6.8% | 14.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
College Station's cost of living index is 90.7 vs Portland's 106.6 (US average = 100).
College Station is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, College Station leads 15 of 23 categories. College Station wins 15 and Portland wins 8. 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 Portland or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($305,800 vs $523,100 median home), income ($52,397 vs $85,876), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
College Station, TX and Portland, OR are about 1,754 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.