What it's like to live in College Station
College Station is a mid-size city in Texas with rent below the national average, crime rates well below the national average, commutes that run shorter than most cities, and a highly educated workforce. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. College Station deals with household incomes below the national average, air quality that falls short of national benchmarks, a poverty rate above the national average, and a rent burden that leaves many renters stretched thin.
The good
- Rent below the national average
- Low crime rates
- Short commutes
- Highly educated workforce
- Growing population
- Low student-teacher ratio
The not so good
- Below-average household incomes
- Air quality concerns
- High poverty rate
- High rent burden for renters
- Hot summers
How College Station compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to College Station
Based on College Station's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$2,388
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $47,760 a year
- 61% of College Station renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$69,340
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $34,670
- Homes cost 6.8× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▼ 15% below US
$1,194/mo median rent
Cost of living works in this city's favor. Median rent sits around $1,194 a month, nothing that raises eyebrows. Solid value overall. Home prices run above average, with a median around $346,700. Buyers should expect to stretch their budget here.
Median home value $346,700 · 61% of renters cost-burdened
Job market▼ 12% below US
3.8% unemployment
Unemployment here is 3.8%, close to the national average of 4.3%.
City-level (BLS)
Safety▼ 60% below US
132 violent crimes per 100k
Safety is genuinely one of the selling points here. Both violent and property crime run well below the national average, the kind of numbers that fade into the background after a week of living somewhere.
Property crime 863/100k · College Station Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▼ 33% below US
17 min average commute
Commutes run short here, averaging 17.4 minutes. That's an underrated perk of living in a smaller or well-planned city, where time isn't lost sitting in traffic. 8 in 10 workers drive to work; 12% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are hot and humid, with highs regularly hitting 95°F, and winters are mild, with lows rarely dropping below 43°F. Rainfall is regular throughout the year.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Healthcare
1 hospital
There's one Medicare-certified hospital inside city limits, rated 4.0 out of 5 by Medicare. Hospitals in neighboring towns aren't counted here.
Medicare-certified hospitals
Education & workforce▲ 57% above US
57% bachelor's degree or higher
This is a highly educated city, with over half the adult population holding a college degree. That tends to shape the job market and the broader culture, and it's a solid indicator of a strong professional scene.
Schools
24 public schools inside the boundary
There are 24 public schools inside the boundary and 6 private schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14:1, well below the national average of 16:1. Smaller class sizes are generally a positive sign for a district.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is El Camino Real de los Tejas National Historic Trail (71 miles away). There are 2 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
College Station's strongest points are rent below the national average and crime rates well below the national average; the main tradeoffs are household incomes below the national average and air quality that falls short of national benchmarks. A year of median rent ($1,194/mo) equals 28% of the median household income here, more than the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit people watching their budget, anyone prioritizing low crime, and people who want short commutes.
Other places near College Station
All Texas guides →Moving to Bryan →
7 mi away · pop. 87,939
Rent $1,195/mo · Income $59,289
Compare with College Station →Moving to Brenham →
30 mi away · pop. 18,641
Rent $1,157/mo · Income $65,112
Compare with College Station →Moving to Huntsville →
45 mi away · pop. 47,864
Rent $1,035/mo · Income $47,529
Compare with College Station →Moving to Conroe →
52 mi away · pop. 102,360
Rent $1,393/mo · Income $76,206
Compare with College Station →Not sure College Station is the one?
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