Head-to-Head · City Comparison
College Station, TX
VS
Portsmouth, VA
🏆 College Station leads 16 of 23 categories
College Station
Texas
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$52,397
Violent Crime Index
45 ✓ Safer
Population
120,451 ✓ Larger
Portsmouth
Virginia
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4
Median Household Income
$57,154 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
198⚠ High
Population
97,384
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
College Station, TX
Pros
77% less violent crime than Portsmouth
More college-educated — 58.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (170.5 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.9 pts lower (4.7%)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 62°F vs 49°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $305,800
Median income trails Portsmouth by $4,757/yr
Portsmouth, VA
Pros
Homes cost $93k less ($213,300 vs $305,800)
Households earn $4,757 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 88°F vs 95°F
Cons
Violent crime (752.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3860.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.6% vs 4.7%)
Cost of living runs 7% higher than College Station
Key Differences at a Glance
College Station
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 90.7 vs 97.4 (100 = US avg)
College Station
Violent Crime
77% lower
170.5 vs 752.4 per 100k
College Station
Unemployment
1.9 pp lower
4.7% vs 6.6% unemployment
College Station
Summer Heat
7.4°F warmer
July avg high 95.4°F vs 88.0°F
Portsmouth
Median Income
$4,757
$57,154 vs $52,397/yr
Portsmouth
Median Home Value
$93k less
$213,300 vs $305,800
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | College Station, TX | Portsmouth, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.7 ✓ Cheaper | 97.4 |
| Median Home Value | $305,800⚠ High | $213,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,129 ✓ Lower | $1,225 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $52,397 | $57,154 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 16.9 min ✓ Shorter | 23.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 11.3% ✓ Higher | 6.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 48 ✓ Safer | 192⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 45 ✓ Safer | 198⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 53 ✓ Safer | 184⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (129) ✓ Better | B- (94) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 | 13.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 58.3% ✓ Higher | 21.2% |
| High School or Higher | 95.3% ✓ Higher | 89.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | COLLEGE STATION ISD | Portsmouth City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 61.7°F ✓ Warmer | 48.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.4°F ✓ Warmer | 88.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.2" ✓ Drier | 50.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 3.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 120,451 ✓ Larger | 97,384 |
| Median Age | 22.9 | 35.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 36.3% | 56.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.5% | 23.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 6.8% | 15.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
College Station's cost of living index is 90.7 vs Portsmouth's 97.4 (US average = 100).
College Station is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, College Station leads 16 of 23 categories. College Station wins 16 and Portsmouth wins 7. 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 Portsmouth or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($305,800 vs $213,300 median home), income ($52,397 vs $57,154), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
College Station, TX and Portsmouth, VA are about 1,222 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.