Head-to-Head · City Comparison
College Station, TX
VS
Spokane, WA
🏆 College Station leads 12 of 23 categories
College Station
Texas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$52,397
Violent Crime Index
45 ✓ Safer
Population
120,451
Spokane
Washington
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$63,316 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
178⚠ High
Population
227,922 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
College Station, TX
Pros
75% less violent crime than Spokane
Violent crime is well below the national average (170.5 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 58.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (4.7%)
Milder winters — January highs near 62°F vs 38°F
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Spokane
Cons
Median income trails Spokane by $10,919/yr
Pricier housing — median home is $305,800
Spokane, WA
Pros
Households earn $10,919 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 95°F
Homes cost $19k less ($286,900 vs $305,800)
Cons
Violent crime (674.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4840.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 10% higher than College Station
Higher unemployment (6.2% vs 4.7%)
Key Differences at a Glance
College Station
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 90.7 vs 101.0 (100 = US avg)
College Station
Violent Crime
75% lower
170.5 vs 674.9 per 100k
College Station
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
4.7% vs 6.2% unemployment
College Station
Summer Heat
8.3°F warmer
July avg high 95.4°F vs 87.1°F
Spokane
Median Income
$10,919
$63,316 vs $52,397/yr
Spokane
Median Home Value
$19k less
$286,900 vs $305,800
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | College Station, TX | Spokane, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.7 ✓ Cheaper | 101.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $305,800⚠ High | $286,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,129 | $1,060 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $52,397 | $63,316 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 16.9 min ✓ Shorter | 20.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 11.3% | 12.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 48 ✓ Safer | 199⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 45 ✓ Safer | 178⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 53 ✓ Safer | 231⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (129) ✓ Better | B (101) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 | 14.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 58.3% ✓ Higher | 32.7% |
| High School or Higher | 95.3% ✓ Higher | 93.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | COLLEGE STATION ISD | Spokane School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 61.7°F ✓ Warmer | 37.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.4°F ✓ Warmer | 87.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.2" | 17.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 45.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 120,451 | 227,922 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 22.9 | 37.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 36.3% | 57.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.5% | 20.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 6.8% | 16.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
College Station's cost of living index is 90.7 vs Spokane's 101.0 (US average = 100).
College Station is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, College Station leads 12 of 23 categories. College Station wins 12 and Spokane wins 11. 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 Spokane or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($305,800 vs $286,900 median home), income ($52,397 vs $63,316), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
College Station, TX and Spokane, WA are about 1,625 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.