Head-to-Head · City Comparison
College Station, TX
VS
Sunnyvale, CA
🏆 College Station leads 12 of 22 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
Sunnyvale
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$174,506 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
64
Population
154,573 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
College Station, TX
Pros
Homes cost $1375k less ($305,800 vs $1,680,700)
Rent averages $1861/mo less ($1,129 vs $2,990)
30% less violent crime than Sunnyvale
22% cheaper overall cost of living than Sunnyvale
Violent crime is well below the national average (170.5 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Sunnyvale by $122,109/yr
Sunnyvale, CA
Pros
Households earn $122,109 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (244.5 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (4.1%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 95°F
More college-educated — 68.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,680,700
Higher rents — median is $2,990/mo
Cost of living runs 22% higher than College Station
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.9)
Key Differences at a Glance
College Station
Cost of Living
22% cheaper
COL index 90.7 vs 112.9 (100 = US avg)
College Station
Violent Crime
30% lower
170.5 vs 244.5 per 100k
College Station
Median Home Value
$1375k less
$305,800 vs $1,680,700
College Station
Summer Heat
18.5°F warmer
July avg high 95.4°F vs 76.9°F
Sunnyvale
Median Income
$122,109
$174,506 vs $52,397/yr
Sunnyvale
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
4.1% vs 4.7% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | College Station, TX | Sunnyvale, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.7 ✓ Cheaper | 112.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $305,800⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,680,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,129 ✓ Lower | $2,990⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $52,397 | $174,506 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High | 4.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 16.9 min ✓ Shorter | 23.6 min |
| Work From Home % | 11.3% | 24.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 48 ✓ Safer | 75 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 45 ✓ Safer | 64 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 53 ✓ Safer | 91 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (129) ✓ Better | A- (112) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 58.3% | 68.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 95.3% ✓ Higher | 94.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | COLLEGE STATION ISD | Cupertino Union |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 61.7°F ✓ Warmer | 59.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.4°F ✓ Warmer | 76.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.2" | 13.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 120,451 | 154,573 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 22.9 | 35.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 36.3% | 44.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.5% | 19.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 6.8% | 12.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
College Station's cost of living index is 90.7 vs Sunnyvale's 112.9 (US average = 100).
College Station is 22% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, College Station leads 12 of 22 categories. College Station wins 12 and Sunnyvale 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 Sunnyvale or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($305,800 vs $1,680,700 median home), income ($52,397 vs $174,506), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
College Station, TX and Sunnyvale, CA are about 1,541 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.