Head-to-Head · City Comparison
College Station, TX
VS
Richmond, CA
🏆 College Station leads 16 of 22 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
Richmond
California
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$86,618 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
243⚠ High
Population
115,619
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
College Station, TX
Pros
Homes cost $319k less ($305,800 vs $624,800)
82% less violent crime than Richmond
Rent averages $724/mo less ($1,129 vs $1,853)
28% cheaper overall cost of living than Richmond
Commutes run 18 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.2 pts lower (4.7%)
Cons
Median income trails Richmond by $34,221/yr
Richmond, CA
Pros
Households earn $34,221 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 71°F vs 95°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $624,800
Higher rents — median is $1,853/mo
Cost of living runs 28% higher than College Station
Violent crime (923.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Key Differences at a Glance
College Station
Cost of Living
28% cheaper
COL index 90.7 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
College Station
Violent Crime
82% lower
170.5 vs 923.1 per 100k
College Station
Median Home Value
$319k less
$305,800 vs $624,800
College Station
Unemployment
2.2 pp lower
4.7% vs 6.9% unemployment
College Station
Summer Heat
24.6°F warmer
July avg high 95.4°F vs 70.8°F
Richmond
Median Income
$34,221
$86,618 vs $52,397/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | College Station, TX | Richmond, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.7 ✓ Cheaper | 118.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $305,800⚠ High ✓ Lower | $624,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,129 ✓ Lower | $1,853⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $52,397 | $86,618 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 16.9 min ✓ Shorter | 34.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 11.3% ✓ Higher | 11.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 48 ✓ Safer | 198⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 45 ✓ Safer | 243⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 53 ✓ Safer | 132⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (129) ✓ Better | C+ (86) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 58.3% ✓ Higher | 32.1% |
| High School or Higher | 95.3% ✓ Higher | 79.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | COLLEGE STATION ISD | West Contra Costa Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 61.7°F ✓ Warmer | 58.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.4°F ✓ Warmer | 70.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.2" | 24.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 120,451 ✓ Larger | 115,619 |
| Median Age | 22.9 | 37.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 36.3% | 51.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.5% | 21.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 6.8% | 14.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
College Station's cost of living index is 90.7 vs Richmond's 118.2 (US average = 100).
College Station is 28% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, College Station leads 16 of 22 categories. College Station wins 16 and Richmond wins 6. 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 Richmond or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($305,800 vs $624,800 median home), income ($52,397 vs $86,618), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
College Station, TX and Richmond, CA are about 1,567 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.