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 starter or luxury home. 

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 is the scorching heat and the humidity. While Texas varies in terms of humidity, College Station gets it without mercy. 

Inexpensive College Town Lifestyle

LookyLOO Review of 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 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/).

We highly recommend visiting College Station and staying in the community in a [VRBO](https://vrbo.com/affiliate/p4JS4ZC) rather than a hotel to get a feel for living among the locals. You can also receive discounted travel fares via our [partnership with Expedia](https://expedia.com/affiliate/9NZ8LBQ).

Lifestyle 

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.  


Worklife

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?

**BioDriver**
2y ago
🦉🦉🦉

Aggie here

Bryan-College Station revolves around the university. During the fall and spring semesters it’s pretty lively, it slows down during the summer, and skids to a halt during the winter break.

The nightlife is college nightlife. Northgate is fun if you’re into college bars and a few more upscale places, but the median age will definitely be 21 or 22.

As another person pointed out, drainage is a huge problem and floods are not uncommon when the rain hits.

There was also a lot of construction when I graduated but I assume that’s since finished.

But ultimately it’s a college town. COL reflects that and you won’t have access to quite as much as you would in Phoenix, Houston, etc. But if you’re not interested in that it’s an affordable, safe place to live.

For more reviews of what living in College Station is like from locals, check out [The Reviews](https://lookyloomove.com/locations/college-station/reviews).

Reviews of College Station from Locals

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

**Brendenation**
2y ago
🦉🦉🦉🦉

Disclaimer: I'm an Aggie and am inherently biased

College Station is actually, imo, a great up-and-coming town, especially for tech companies. It's (obviously) a college town, with some annoying drivers, but the people are largely friendly and the community helpful, in my experience as a student. The major "gotcha" is that there is solidly fuck-all in any direction for about 100 miles. There's a decent amount to do in the town, but a lot of it is directed at college students, and if it isn't in College Station, you will have to go pretty far to get what you're looking for.

Overall, even if you aren't part of the Aggie cult, I think it's a really neat place to live, if a little isolated. I live in Dallas now and still visit regularly, part of it still feels like home.

**BioDriver**
2y ago
🦉🦉🦉

Aggie here

Bryan-College Station revolves around the university. During the fall and spring semesters it’s pretty lively, it slows down during the summer, and skids to a halt during the winter break.

The nightlife is college nightlife. Northgate is fun if you’re into college bars and a few more upscale places, but the median age will definitely be 21 or 22.

As another person pointed out, drainage is a huge problem and floods are not uncommon when the rain hits.

There was also a lot of construction when I graduated but I assume that’s since finished.

But ultimately it’s a college town. COL reflects that and you won’t have access to quite as much as you would in Phoenix, Houston, etc. But if you’re not interested in that it’s an affordable, safe place to live.

**Easy-Adhesiveness337**
2y ago
🦉🦉🦉

It’s also a fair drive to a big city to do big city things. From a day-to-day it’s a fine place to live, lots of retirees are flocking to the area because it’s got basically what you need, but the night life is definitely driven by the college age crew.

Most of the retail and restaurants cater to the college crowd, but I’d you’re just out of school, it might work for you.

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



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