Head-to-Head · City Comparison
College Station, TX
VS
Stockton, CA
🏆 College Station leads 15 of 22 categories
College Station
Texas
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$52,397
Violent Crime Index
45 ✓ Safer
Population
120,451
Stockton
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,612 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
302⚠ High
Population
320,030 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
College Station, TX
Pros
85% less violent crime than Stockton
More college-educated — 58.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.0 pts lower (4.7%)
Commutes run 16 min shorter each way
Rent averages $288/mo less ($1,129 vs $1,417)
Homes cost $76k less ($305,800 vs $382,000)
Cons
Median income trails Stockton by $19,215/yr
Stockton, CA
Pros
Households earn $19,215 more per year on average
Cons
Violent crime (1145.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,417/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $382,000
Cost of living runs 17% higher than College Station
Key Differences at a Glance
College Station
Cost of Living
17% cheaper
COL index 90.7 vs 107.4 (100 = US avg)
College Station
Violent Crime
85% lower
170.5 vs 1145.8 per 100k
College Station
Median Home Value
$76k less
$305,800 vs $382,000
College Station
Unemployment
3.0 pp lower
4.7% vs 7.7% unemployment
Stockton
Median Income
$19,215
$71,612 vs $52,397/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | College Station, TX | Stockton, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.7 ✓ Cheaper | 107.4⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $305,800⚠ High ✓ Lower | $382,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,129 ✓ Lower | $1,417⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $52,397 | $71,612 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 16.9 min ✓ Shorter | 32.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 11.3% ✓ Higher | 5.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 48 ✓ Safer | 231⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 45 ✓ Safer | 302⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 53 ✓ Safer | 126⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (129) ✓ Better | C- (74) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 58.3% ✓ Higher | 18.3% |
| High School or Higher | 95.3% ✓ Higher | 77.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | COLLEGE STATION ISD | Stockton Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 61.7°F ✓ Warmer | 58.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.4°F ✓ Warmer | 94.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.2" | 17.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 120,451 | 320,030 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 22.9 | 33.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 36.3% | 51.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.5% | 27.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 6.8% | 12.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
College Station's cost of living index is 90.7 vs Stockton's 107.4 (US average = 100).
College Station is 17% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, College Station leads 15 of 22 categories. College Station wins 15 and Stockton wins 7. 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 Stockton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($305,800 vs $382,000 median home), income ($52,397 vs $71,612), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
College Station, TX and Stockton, CA are about 1,511 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.