Head-to-Head · City Comparison
College Station, TX
VS
Richardson, TX
🏆 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
Population
120,451 ✓ Larger
Richardson
Texas
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$94,362 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
39 ✓ Safer
Population
118,063
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
College Station, TX
Pros
Rent averages $596/mo less ($1,129 vs $1,725)
Homes cost $74k less ($305,800 vs $379,800)
Violent crime is well below the national average (170.5 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Richardson
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.7)
Cons
Median income trails Richardson by $41,965/yr
Richardson, TX
Pros
Households earn $41,965 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (146.7 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,725/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $379,800
Cost of living runs 13% higher than College Station
Key Differences at a Glance
College Station
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 90.7 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
College Station
Median Home Value
$74k less
$305,800 vs $379,800
Richardson
Median Income
$41,965
$94,362 vs $52,397/yr
Richardson
Violent Crime
14% lower
146.7 vs 170.5 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | College Station, TX | Richardson, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.7 ✓ Cheaper | 103.3⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $305,800⚠ High ✓ Lower | $379,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,129 ✓ Lower | $1,725⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $52,397 | $94,362 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 16.9 min ✓ Shorter | 23.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 11.3% | 19.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 48 ✓ Safer | 58 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 45 | 39 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 53 ✓ Safer | 87 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (129) | A+ (133) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 | 13.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 58.3% ✓ Higher | 55.5% |
| High School or Higher | 95.3% ✓ Higher | 92.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | COLLEGE STATION ISD | RICHARDSON ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 61.7°F ✓ Warmer | 55.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.4°F ✓ Warmer | 94.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.2" | 40.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 1.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 120,451 ✓ Larger | 118,063 |
| Median Age | 22.9 | 34.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 36.3% | 51.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.5% | 21.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 6.8% | 12.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
College Station's cost of living index is 90.7 vs Richardson's 103.3 (US average = 100).
College Station is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, College Station leads 13 of 23 categories. College Station wins 13 and Richardson 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 Richardson or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($305,800 vs $379,800 median home), income ($52,397 vs $94,362), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
College Station, TX and Richardson, TX are about 167 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.