Head-to-Head · City Comparison
College Station, TX
VS
Virginia Beach, VA
🏆 College Station leads 13 of 23 categories
College Station
Texas
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$52,397
Violent Crime Index
45
Population
120,451
Virginia Beach
Virginia
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4
Median Household Income
$87,544 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
24 ✓ Safer
Population
457,900 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
College Station, TX
Pros
Rent averages $439/mo less ($1,129 vs $1,568)
Violent crime is well below the national average (170.5 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 58.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Homes cost $38k less ($305,800 vs $343,700)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.7)
Cons
Median income trails Virginia Beach by $35,147/yr
Virginia Beach, VA
Pros
Households earn $35,147 more per year on average
46% less violent crime than College Station
Violent crime is well below the national average (92.3 vs 380/100k)
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 95°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,568/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $343,700
Cost of living runs 7% higher than College Station
Key Differences at a Glance
College Station
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 90.7 vs 97.4 (100 = US avg)
College Station
Median Home Value
$38k less
$305,800 vs $343,700
College Station
Summer Heat
8.0°F warmer
July avg high 95.4°F vs 87.4°F
Virginia Beach
Median Income
$35,147
$87,544 vs $52,397/yr
Virginia Beach
Violent Crime
46% lower
92.3 vs 170.5 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | College Station, TX | Virginia Beach, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.7 ✓ Cheaper | 97.4 |
| Median Home Value | $305,800⚠ High ✓ Lower | $343,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,129 ✓ Lower | $1,568⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $52,397 | $87,544 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 16.9 min ✓ Shorter | 23.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 11.3% ✓ Higher | 10.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 48 | 46 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 45 | 24 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 53 ✓ Safer | 78 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (129) ✓ Better | B+ (109) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 | 14.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 58.3% ✓ Higher | 39.8% |
| High School or Higher | 95.3% ✓ Higher | 94.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | COLLEGE STATION ISD | Virginia Beach City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 61.7°F ✓ Warmer | 50.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.4°F ✓ Warmer | 87.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.2" ✓ Drier | 54.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 3.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 120,451 | 457,900 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 22.9 | 37.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 36.3% | 64.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.5% | 22.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 6.8% | 15.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
College Station's cost of living index is 90.7 vs Virginia Beach's 97.4 (US average = 100).
College Station is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, College Station leads 13 of 23 categories. College Station wins 13 and Virginia Beach 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 Virginia Beach or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($305,800 vs $343,700 median home), income ($52,397 vs $87,544), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
College Station, TX and Virginia Beach, VA are about 1,238 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.