Head-to-Head · City Comparison
College Station, TX
VS
San Antonio, 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 ✓ Safer
Population
120,451
San Antonio
Texas
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.7
Median Household Income
$59,593 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
156⚠ High
Population
1,445,662 ✓ 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 San Antonio
More college-educated — 58.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (170.5 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (4.7%)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.7)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $305,800
Median income trails San Antonio by $7,196/yr
San Antonio, TX
Pros
Homes cost $108k less ($198,000 vs $305,800)
Households earn $7,196 more per year on average
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.7)
Cons
Violent crime (594.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4623.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.9% vs 4.7%)
Cost of living runs 3% higher than College Station
Key Differences at a Glance
College Station
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 90.7 vs 93.7 (100 = US avg)
College Station
Violent Crime
71% lower
170.5 vs 594.1 per 100k
College Station
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
4.7% vs 5.9% unemployment
San Antonio
Median Income
$7,196
$59,593 vs $52,397/yr
San Antonio
Median Home Value
$108k less
$198,000 vs $305,800
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | College Station, TX | San Antonio, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.7 ✓ Cheaper | 93.7 |
| Median Home Value | $305,800⚠ High | $198,000 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,129 ✓ Lower | $1,189 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $52,397 | $59,593 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 16.9 min ✓ Shorter | 24.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 11.3% ✓ Higher | 9.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 48 ✓ Safer | 182⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 45 ✓ Safer | 156⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 53 ✓ Safer | 220⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (129) ✓ Better | B (97) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 | 14.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 58.3% ✓ Higher | 27.7% |
| High School or Higher | 95.3% ✓ Higher | 83.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | COLLEGE STATION ISD | NORTHSIDE ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 61.7°F | 63.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 95.4°F ✓ Warmer | 94.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.2" | 34.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 0.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 120,451 | 1,445,662 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 22.9 | 34.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 36.3% | 51.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.5% | 24.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 6.8% | 12.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
College Station's cost of living index is 90.7 vs San Antonio's 93.7 (US average = 100).
College Station is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, College Station leads 13 of 23 categories. College Station wins 13 and San Antonio 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 San Antonio or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($305,800 vs $198,000 median home), income ($52,397 vs $59,593), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
College Station, TX and San Antonio, TX are about 154 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.