Head-to-Head · City Comparison
College Station, TX
VS
Providence, RI
🏆 College Station leads 14 of 22 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
Providence
Rhode Island
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$61,365 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
73
Population
189,715 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
College Station, TX
Pros
38% less violent crime than Providence
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.5 pts lower (4.7%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (170.5 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 58.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 62°F vs 38°F
Cons
Median income trails Providence by $8,968/yr
Providence, RI
Pros
Households earn $8,968 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 95°F
Cons
Cost of living runs 10% higher than College Station
Higher unemployment (7.2% vs 4.7%)
Key Differences at a Glance
College Station
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 90.7 vs 100.9 (100 = US avg)
College Station
Violent Crime
38% lower
170.5 vs 276.7 per 100k
College Station
Unemployment
2.5 pp lower
4.7% vs 7.2% unemployment
College Station
Summer Heat
11.8°F warmer
July avg high 95.4°F vs 83.6°F
Providence
Median Income
$8,968
$61,365 vs $52,397/yr
Providence
Median Home Value
$13k less
$293,000 vs $305,800
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | College Station, TX | Providence, RI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.7 ✓ Cheaper | 100.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $305,800⚠ High | $293,000 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,129 ✓ Lower | $1,214 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $52,397 | $61,365 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 16.9 min ✓ Shorter | 24.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 11.3% | 11.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 48 ✓ Safer | 75 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 45 ✓ Safer | 73 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 53 ✓ Safer | 79 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (129) ✓ Better | B- (95) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 | 14.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 58.3% ✓ Higher | 34.5% |
| High School or Higher | 95.3% ✓ Higher | 82.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | COLLEGE STATION ISD | Providence |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 61.7°F ✓ Warmer | 38.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.4°F ✓ Warmer | 83.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.2" ✓ Drier | 47.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 36.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 120,451 | 189,715 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 22.9 | 32.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 36.3% | 39.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.5% | 20.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 6.8% | 11.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
College Station's cost of living index is 90.7 vs Providence's 100.9 (US average = 100).
College Station is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, College Station leads 14 of 22 categories. College Station wins 14 and Providence 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 Providence or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($305,800 vs $293,000 median home), income ($52,397 vs $61,365), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
College Station, TX and Providence, RI are about 1,581 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.