Head-to-Head · City Comparison
College Station, TX
VS
Rochester, NY
🏆 College Station leads 14 of 23 categories
College Station
Texas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$52,397 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
45 ✓ Safer
Population
120,451
Rochester
New York
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.7
Median Household Income
$44,156
Violent Crime Index
153⚠ High
Population
210,992 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
College Station, TX
Pros
71% less violent crime than Rochester
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.8 pts lower (4.7%)
More college-educated — 58.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (170.5 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $8,241 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 62°F vs 33°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $305,800
Rochester, NY
Pros
Homes cost $194k less ($111,400 vs $305,800)
Rent averages $134/mo less ($995 vs $1,129)
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 95°F
Smaller class sizes — 10.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (582.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails College Station by $8,241/yr
Property crime (3289.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.5% vs 4.7%)
Key Differences at a Glance
College Station
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 90.7 vs 97.7 (100 = US avg)
College Station
Median Income
$8,241
$52,397 vs $44,156/yr
College Station
Violent Crime
71% lower
170.5 vs 582.3 per 100k
College Station
Unemployment
3.8 pp lower
4.7% vs 8.5% unemployment
College Station
Summer Heat
12.9°F warmer
July avg high 95.4°F vs 82.5°F
Rochester
Median Home Value
$194k less
$111,400 vs $305,800
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | College Station, TX | Rochester, NY |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.7 ✓ Cheaper | 97.7 |
| Median Home Value | $305,800⚠ High | $111,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,129 | $995 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $52,397 ✓ Higher | $44,156 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 16.9 min ✓ Shorter | 19.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 11.3% ✓ Higher | 9.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 48 ✓ Safer | 155⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 45 ✓ Safer | 153⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 53 ✓ Safer | 157⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (129) ✓ Better | B (100) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 | 10.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 58.3% ✓ Higher | 29.4% |
| High School or Higher | 95.3% ✓ Higher | 83.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | COLLEGE STATION ISD | ROCHESTER CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 61.7°F ✓ Warmer | 33.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.4°F ✓ Warmer | 82.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.2" | 35.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 102.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 120,451 | 210,992 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 22.9 | 32.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 36.3% | 37.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.5% | 21.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 6.8% | 12.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
College Station's cost of living index is 90.7 vs Rochester's 97.7 (US average = 100).
College Station is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, College Station leads 14 of 23 categories. College Station wins 14 and Rochester wins 9. 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 Rochester or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($305,800 vs $111,400 median home), income ($52,397 vs $44,156), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
College Station, TX and Rochester, NY are about 1,344 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.