College towns have experienced a sharp rise in costs over the last decade as everyone from youngsters, families and retirees realized these are often great places to live. College Station has many of the perks of other college towns but the cost of living has remained wonderfully low. Not just for rentals but also for buying a condo or starter or luxury home. 

If you're interested in a local's point of view:
*It is a really good town to raise a family in. The schools are fantastic and it is considered pretty safe. I hear about a lot of people who choose to raise family here. I rent a duplex in a "cheap" area of CS, and all weekend long the quiet street I live on is full of young kids playing as about half of the duplexes house families.*

Inexpensive College Town Lifestyle

 The Best Thing About College Station?

There are a few things you’ll hear people complain about in College Station: progressives think it’s too conservative and conservatives claim those damn youngsters are too liberal as an example. When it comes right down to it though the most common complaint about is the scorching heat. The worst part locals say is the humidity. While Texas varies in terms of humidity, College Station gets it without mercy. 

A local's notes about the heat and fashion:
*Honestly? there's only so much you can do. This is coming from an Australian so I've had a lot of experiance with the heat... Pretty much if I wear anything more than short chino shorts, a t-shirt and converse lows, ill survive for ~30mins before I'm dripping in sweat and on the verge of heat stroke.*

*I end up giving up the fashion game for 6 months of the year as its utterly useless to even try and mix things up. Some climates are lucky enough to break out a jacket/long sleeve on a cool summer's night... but not ours... my long pants and jackets can be in long term storage during summer for all I care, I'm just never gonna need them.*


The Heat

The Worst Thing About College Station ?

The events and culture of Texas A&M play a big role in the life of locals in College Station. Sports are HUGE here and so expect crazy crowds filled with pride and energy on game day. Football is king but other sports, men’s and women’s are a big deal and the school has plenty of arts and cultural events available to locals. Families love College Station, just like most college towns, because the area is safe, there is lots to do here for kiddos, and the schools are excellent. While young professionals will find the culture a bit boring (compared to bigger cities) for families it is kind of a paradise. 

If you want to see what locals do for fun in College Station check out the calendar of events: https://visit.cstx.gov/events/


Lifestyle of College Station

The primary complaint about working in College Station is the wages. A massive student body that will work for minimum wage drives down earnings for service/retail/blue collar jobs. The biggest employers in the area are Texas A&M and the School Districts of College Station and Bryan. If you’re working in education this is a good city. Outside of education there is a big health system and some energy and emerging tech. For a town that is 3 to 4 hours from another big city though you’re safest in education or health for backup in case your first gig doesn’t work out.  


Workstyle of College Station

If being in a college town is important to you, and you can work remotely (or are retired), and want to save money then College Station should be on your shortlist. 


Save Dough in a College Town

Why You Should Move Here Now?

Texas A&M crosses the border between College Station and next door neighbor, Bryan. The distinction between the two isn’t significant to locals as there is not obvious border like a river or some other obvious geographical distinction. Many young professionals choose Historic Downtown Bryan as opposed to College Station due its arts scene, variety of restaurants and bars and more interesting boutique shopping and cafes. When you’re picturing living in a friendly walk score area with easy access to nightlife and work this should be the first place you look.

Students flock to the apartment buildings along University Drive in Northgate and College Heights just north of campus. That’s the main strip for the restaurants, bars and cafes that students hit up at night and on weekends. Also check out South of campus in Southside if you’re looking to be at a bit of a distance from the racket of the main social spots. 
- Downtown Bryan
- Northgate
- College Heights 
- Southside


Young Professionals/Students

Downtown Bryan

There are plenty of family-focused neighborhoods in College Station. If you’re into the golf club lifestyle then check out Pebble Creek. Large estates filled with beautiful oaks line the course in this master-planned community. The neighborhood has its own excellent grade school and is zoned for some of the best public schools in the area. If you want your kiddos to have an outdoor lifestyle, at home, in the woodlands and lakes, and at the clubhouse where there’s swimming, tennis, fitness and of course the golf. 

If that’s not your scene check out the historic district, called Southside. Just south of A&M’s campus, it is filled with a collection of 50-100 year-old homes that both look built to part of the character of a great university and are close enough to feel like you’re part of a university neighborhood. Other than on game day the neighborhood is quiet and the historic homes are canopied by 100-year old oak trees that house those who want to truly live in the center of the city. 
- Southside
- Great Oaks Estate
- Indian Lakes
- Pebble Creek 


Families

Southside

College Station

**Living in college station?**

College Station is a very hot and humid small town with a giant university in the middle of it that has a fuck ton of traditions and a huge military and STEM presence.

If you're looking for fun things to do, I would recommend going to a concert at the Grand Stafford or visiting the mom-and-pop shops in Downtown Bryan or going to a movie at Cinemark or dancing at Halo. Northgate, which you'll inevitably hear a lot about, is a strip of bars and clubs but you either love it or you fucking hate it. I think Downtown Bryan has more things to do than College Station.

As somebody who's lived in Houston and San Antonio and a few smaller towns on the outside of them, there are definitely smaller towns in the world than College Station but nonetheless, it's still a small town and there's still not very much to do. This town is basically A&M plus Bryan and you'll find that the population of college students outweighs the population of old people and the old people are constantly complaining about the college students even though they live in COLLEGE station so that's fun.

Football season is a really big thing here and, during game weekends, there's usually a lot of traffic from all of the alumni that overwhelm the town to go to the games.

I would really recommend joining an organization or befriending your classmates because being alone in this town can really make or break your experience--as it can anywhere, but especially here.

**Living in college station?**

College Station is like the biggest small town ever. It is not a diverse populace, though. The default is white, straight, southern Christian. There is an unfortunate racist streak. Even in my graduate program, a professional program that graduated doctors, I witnessed overt racism (e.g. the wearing of confederate flag t-shirts, and complaining on social media about black people.) The white nationalist Richard Spencer chose Texas A&M to visit and spew his hate speech in 2016. However, you will find that the majority of the people are kind, warm, and honorable.

**What's it like living in college station as a non-college student? Also, does anyone have any info/experience on working as a doctor with the med school for A&M?**

I don't have any information about the med school, but I live in College Station as a PhD student (27). I really like the town, although it definitely doesn't have as much to do as cities would.

It is a really good town to raise a family in. The schools are fantastic and it is considered pretty safe. I hear about a lot of people who choose to raise family here. I rent a duplex in a "cheap" area of CS, and all weekend long the quiet street I live on is full of young kids playing as about half of the duplexes house families.

The traffic can be a bit of a pain when school is in session, but everything you could need is conveniently in town within a 10 min drive. And while it isn't a thrilling metropolis of entertainment options, Houston and Austin are both under 2 hours away and make for easy day trips when you want to get out.

**What are the people like in College Station, TX?**

The makeup of College Station alone is primarily White Christian. This is of course not accounting for the neighboring town of Bryan and of course the large number of international students at Texas A&M. 60,000 students cover the population of Texas A&M so it is a college town. The people are some of the nicest/spirited individuals I’ve ever met before; this is especially true for me because I come from a border town in the south. The politeness and mannerisms of people first struck me when I moved here because, for example, you can have a good, well-meaningful conversation with any random person feeling content.

**College Station, Texas has been named by Forbes Magazine as one of the best places to retire.**



College Station, Texas

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