Montgomery College Station-Bryan

Relocation analysis based on 7 federal data sources

Verdict
Neutral — Depends on Priorities
Cost Index: 89.7 → 91.0
Rent Delta: +$170/mo

Pros of Moving

  • + $4K higher median salary
  • + Better student-teacher ratios

Cons of Moving

  • - $170/mo more expensive rent (2BR)
  • - More environmental violations

Moving from Montgomery to College Station-Bryan shifts your BEA Regional Price Parity from 89.7 to 91.0 (100 = US average), so a Montgomery salary needs to be multiplied by 1.01 to hold the same purchasing power in College Station-Bryan. On rent, HUD Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom goes from $1,016/month in Montgomery to $1,186/month in College Station-Bryan - a higher monthly bill of $170, or $2,040/year. That rent delta alone is often the single biggest line item when relocating.

Wages tell the other half. BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics report a median salary of $58,388 in Montgomery versus $62,191 in College Station-Bryan - a raw gap of $3,803 higher. The College Station-Bryan labor market has 118,500 tracked jobs against 157,200 in Montgomery, shaping how easy it is to find a comparable role. Combine that with the cost-of-living shift above and you get the real purchasing-power delta, sometimes a "higher salary" is actually a pay cut once rent and RPP are applied.

Safety, schools, and childcare round out the move. FBI UCR violent crime rates near Montgomery and College Station-Bryan are 376 and 395 per 100,000 (state-level). NCES student-teacher ratios run 17.7:1 at origin versus 14.7:1 at destination. DOL center-based infant care costs $6,896/year in Montgomery versus $7,566/year in College Station-Bryan. Our composite verdict - Neutral — Depends on Priorities - weighs all seven federal sources; the dimension table below lets you override that with your personal priorities.

Dimension
Montgomery
College Station-Bryan
Winner
💰 Cost of Living
RPP 89.7
RPP 91.0
Montgomery
🏠 Rent (2BR)
$1,016/mo
$1,186/mo
Montgomery
💼 Wages
$58,388
$62,191
College Station-Bryan
🔒 Crime
376 per 100K
395 per 100K
Montgomery
🎓 Schools
17.7:1
14.7:1
College Station-Bryan
👶 Childcare
$6,896/yr
$7,566/yr
Montgomery
🌿 Environment
485 violations
33822 violations
Montgomery

Salary Adjustment Calculator

Enter your current salary in Montgomery to see what you'd need to earn in College Station-Bryan to maintain the same purchasing power.

Equivalent salary in College Station-Bryan
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Frequently Asked Questions

Is College Station-Bryan more expensive than Montgomery?
College Station-Bryan has an RPP of 91.0 compared to Montgomery's 89.7 (100 = national average). College Station-Bryan is more expensive overall. The 2BR rent in College Station-Bryan is $1,186/mo vs $1,016/mo in Montgomery.
What are salaries like in College Station-Bryan compared to Montgomery?
The median salary in College Station-Bryan is $62,191 compared to $58,388 in Montgomery. That's a +$3,803 difference.
Is College Station-Bryan safer than Montgomery?
The violent crime rate near College Station-Bryan is 395 per 100K vs 376 per 100K near Montgomery (state-level data). Montgomery has a lower crime rate.
How much would I need to earn in College Station-Bryan to match my Montgomery salary?
To maintain the same purchasing power, multiply your Montgomery salary by 1.01. For example, a $75,000 salary in Montgomery would need to be $76,061 in College Station-Bryan. Use the salary calculator above for your exact figure.
What does the "Neutral — Depends on Priorities" verdict mean?
The verdict is computed from 7 dimensions, cost of living, rent, wages, crime, schools, childcare, and environment, using federal data. "Neutral — Depends on Priorities" means both metros are roughly equivalent across the 7 dimensions. Individual priorities may shift the balance, weigh the dimensions that matter most to you.

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Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, HUD Fair Market Rents, BLS OES, FBI UCR, NCES, DOL, EPA June 2026

Data Sources

  • Cost of Living: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities
  • Rent: HUD Fair Market Rents (FMR)
  • Wages: Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES)
  • Crime: FBI Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) - state level
  • Schools: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)
  • Childcare: Department of Labor (DOL) - state level
  • Environment: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)