Head-to-Head · City Comparison
College Station, TX
VS
Round Rock, TX
🏆 Round Rock leads 12 of 22 categories
College Station
Texas
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$52,397
Violent Crime Index
45
Population
120,451
Round Rock
Texas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.6
Median Household Income
$91,888 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
34 ✓ Safer
Population
120,465 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
College Station, TX
Pros
Rent averages $457/mo less ($1,129 vs $1,586)
Violent crime is well below the national average (170.5 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 58.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Homes cost $32k less ($305,800 vs $337,500)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.7)
Cons
Median income trails Round Rock by $39,491/yr
Higher unemployment (4.7% vs 3.8%)
Round Rock, TX
Pros
Households earn $39,491 more per year on average
23% less violent crime than College Station
Violent crime is well below the national average (130.7 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (3.8%)
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,586/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $337,500
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 97.6 (100 = US avg)
College Station
Median Home Value
$32k less
$305,800 vs $337,500
Round Rock
Median Income
$39,491
$91,888 vs $52,397/yr
Round Rock
Violent Crime
23% lower
130.7 vs 170.5 per 100k
Round Rock
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
3.8% vs 4.7% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | College Station, TX | Round Rock, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.7 ✓ Cheaper | 97.6 |
| Median Home Value | $305,800⚠ High ✓ Lower | $337,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,129 ✓ Lower | $1,586⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $52,397 | $91,888 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 16.9 min ✓ Shorter | 25.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 11.3% | 19.6% ✓ 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 | 34 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 53 ✓ Safer | 92 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (129) ✓ Better | A- (115) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 | 14.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 58.3% ✓ Higher | 42.3% |
| High School or Higher | 95.3% ✓ Higher | 93.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | COLLEGE STATION ISD | ROUND ROCK ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 61.7°F ✓ Warmer | 59.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.4°F | 95.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.2" | 36.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 120,451 | 120,465 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 22.9 | 35.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 36.3% | 55.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.5% | 25.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 6.8% | 10.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
College Station's cost of living index is 90.7 vs Round Rock's 97.6 (US average = 100).
College Station is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Round Rock leads 12 of 22 categories. College Station wins 10 and Round Rock wins 12. 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 Round Rock or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($305,800 vs $337,500 median home), income ($52,397 vs $91,888), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
College Station, TX and Round Rock, TX are about 81 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.