Head-to-Head · City Comparison
College Station, TX
VS
Trenton, NJ
🏆 College Station leads 18 of 23 categories
College Station
Texas
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$52,397 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
45 ✓ Safer
Population
120,451 ✓ Larger
Trenton
New Jersey
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.1⚠ High
Median Household Income
$44,444
Violent Crime Index
270⚠ High
Population
90,055
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
College Station, TX
Pros
83% less violent crime than Trenton
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.5 pts lower (4.7%)
More college-educated — 58.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (170.5 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Households earn $7,953 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $305,800
Trenton, NJ
Pros
Homes cost $195k less ($111,200 vs $305,800)
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 95°F
Cons
Violent crime (1025.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails College Station by $7,953/yr
Cost of living runs 11% higher than College Station
Higher unemployment (10.2% vs 4.7%)
Key Differences at a Glance
College Station
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 90.7 vs 102.1 (100 = US avg)
College Station
Median Income
$7,953
$52,397 vs $44,444/yr
College Station
Violent Crime
83% lower
170.5 vs 1025.9 per 100k
College Station
Unemployment
5.5 pp lower
4.7% vs 10.2% unemployment
College Station
Summer Heat
8.9°F warmer
July avg high 95.4°F vs 86.5°F
Trenton
Median Home Value
$195k less
$111,200 vs $305,800
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | College Station, TX | Trenton, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.7 ✓ Cheaper | 102.1⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $305,800⚠ High | $111,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,129 ✓ Lower | $1,177 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $52,397 ✓ Higher | $44,444 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 10.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 16.9 min ✓ Shorter | 26.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 11.3% ✓ Higher | 5.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 48 ✓ Safer | 206⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 45 ✓ Safer | 270⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 53 ✓ Safer | 109⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (129) ✓ Better | C (75) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 58.3% ✓ Higher | 15.6% |
| High School or Higher | 95.3% ✓ Higher | 76.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | COLLEGE STATION ISD | Trenton Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 61.7°F ✓ Warmer | 39.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.4°F ✓ Warmer | 86.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.2" ✓ Drier | 47.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 26.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 120,451 ✓ Larger | 90,055 |
| Median Age | 22.9 | 35.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 36.3% | 38.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.5% | 25.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 6.8% | 12.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
College Station's cost of living index is 90.7 vs Trenton's 102.1 (US average = 100).
College Station is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, College Station leads 18 of 23 categories. College Station wins 18 and Trenton wins 5. 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 Trenton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($305,800 vs $111,200 median home), income ($52,397 vs $44,444), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
College Station, TX and Trenton, NJ are about 1,378 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.