Head-to-Head · City Comparison
College Station, TX
VS
Tucson, AZ
🏆 College Station leads 12 of 23 categories
College Station
Texas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$52,397 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
45 ✓ Safer
Population
120,451
Tucson
Arizona
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.3
Median Household Income
$52,049
Violent Crime Index
155⚠ High
Population
541,033 ✓ 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 Tucson
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 1.8 pts lower (4.7%)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.7)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $305,800
Tucson, AZ
Pros
Homes cost $88k less ($218,200 vs $305,800)
Rent averages $138/mo less ($991 vs $1,129)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.3)
Cons
Violent crime (588.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3313.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.5% vs 4.7%)
Hot summers — July highs average 100°F
Key Differences at a Glance
College Station
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 90.7 vs 94.3 (100 = US avg)
College Station
Violent Crime
71% lower
170.5 vs 588.8 per 100k
College Station
Unemployment
1.8 pp lower
4.7% vs 6.5% unemployment
Tucson
Median Home Value
$88k less
$218,200 vs $305,800
Tucson
Summer Heat
4.8°F warmer
July avg high 100.2°F vs 95.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | College Station, TX | Tucson, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.7 ✓ Cheaper | 94.3 |
| Median Home Value | $305,800⚠ High | $218,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,129 | $991 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $52,397 ✓ Higher | $52,049 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 16.9 min ✓ Shorter | 22.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 11.3% ✓ Higher | 10.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 48 ✓ Safer | 156⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 45 ✓ Safer | 155⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 53 ✓ Safer | 158⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (129) ✓ Better | B- (95) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 | 14.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 58.3% ✓ Higher | 29.4% |
| High School or Higher | 95.3% ✓ Higher | 86.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | COLLEGE STATION ISD | Tucson Unified District (4403) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 61.7°F | 66.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 95.4°F | 100.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.2" | 12.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 0.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 120,451 | 541,033 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 22.9 | 33.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 36.3% | 50.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.5% | 20.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 6.8% | 15.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
College Station's cost of living index is 90.7 vs Tucson's 94.3 (US average = 100).
College Station is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, College Station leads 12 of 23 categories. College Station wins 12 and Tucson 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 Tucson or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($305,800 vs $218,200 median home), income ($52,397 vs $52,049), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
College Station, TX and Tucson, AZ are about 866 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.