Comfortable, Conservative and Safe Place to Live - 9/1/2022

I moved here seven years ago for my job and I have to say it was better than I expected. First off, it is a small city not a small town. After you live here for awhile, having to drive for more than 20 minutes to get somewhere you need to go is considered too far. Meaning, most things are conveniently located and easily accessible--if you have a car. So here a some non-political statements: -When I first got here housing was affordable but now not so much. People moving here from more expensive places are, according to a realtor I talked to, are bidding up prices. -Overall, cost of living is affordable and grocery store prices are 20% lower than anywhere else I have lived (and I have lived all over the United States). -Everybody, and I mean everybody is nice as long as you are nice to them back. To me that is very refreshing, but others find it creepy. Depends on where you come from and what you are used to. -Yes the area is very conservative. That means people here are willing to extend a hand up. They will not offer a hand out-you need to earn what you get. Again, some find that refreshing, some find it mean. Let you conscience be your guide. -There are a wide variety of restaurants but a lot of them are restaurant chains. You can find local only places, and they tend to be quite popular, but with over 60,000 Texas A&M students here, they are looking for hometown comforts which means regional and sometimes national chains. -Health care services are improving but for specialty services, you will be driving 90 minutes to Houston (providing Houston traffic is its normal self. If there are incidents that can double!). -Crime is low, but as the area grows, it is increasing. According to the police chief, we are seeing criminals driving up from Houston to take advantage of locals lack of crime crime concern. No break-ins to homes, but things like catalytic converters being taken and unlocked cars being robbed. People here complain that its not like it used to be where you could leaves homes and cars unlocked, but I never lived in a place where you could do that, so for me it is a non-issue. -The weather here is like a good chili pepper. It can range from mild to really hot. We have had snow twice in my seven years, but for the most part, you don't need a winter coat. A lightly-insulated coat every once in a while with light gloves, yes but usually not a winter coat. Two mild tornadoes (EF-2 and below for very short distances). No hurricane force winds and no hurricanes, but some heavy rain events that cause localized flooding in low-lying areas. You drive downhill to get to Houston, so we seem elevated enough to keep us safe. Having said that, we have not been in the path of the remnants of a hurricane since I have been here. -College Station schools are top notch. Bryan (the twin city to College Station) not so much. Being in a republican-controlled area, they teach conservative values. So if letting students choose their own pronouns to describe themselves is what you want, this is not the place to raise your kids. -Everything revolves around Texas A&M, from sports to entertainment. Texas A&M prides itself on conservative values, so if you a looking for a liberal college town, this is not for you. -Unless you have a white-collar job at the University, in the bio-tech industry, or in financial, real-estate, or related services, then yes your job prospects are in retail and services. You either need an employable college degree or have a trade skill to earn more than minimum. -People here attend church regularly, but they don't shove religion in your face. Having said that, the local religion is predominately conservative which aligns with local political views. There are liberal protestant churches and there are conservative protestant churches but finding one in the middle will be difficult (I know because I have being trying for the seven years I have been here.) Overall, I find this a comfortable, conservative and safe place to live.

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Great Place, Needs More Culture - 5/22/2022

Pros: - Safe - Easy access to Houston & Austin - Growing Bio Tech Scene - Lots of food choices - City of Bryan has character - Plenty of stuff to do because of the university and easy access to Houston / Conroe / Woodlands. Cons: - Car dependent (getting better) - Traffic Getting Worse - Depending on neighborhood: noise. - City has no identity beyond the university.

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A Town for Texas A&M - 12/13/2021

A Huge portion of you liking this city is if you like the Aggies. If you don't this is probably not the place for you because many of the things to do are based around A&M. A&M has a student pop of about 60-70k students so there are a lot of them here. I lived here for 5 years as a student and loved it there. While living there I worked at a high school as well and asked some of my students what they thought of living here and they said that sometimes their high school experiences can be overshadowed by the college students which I could definitely understand happening. Something to think about if you are moving here with kids.

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It sucks. - 7/21/2021

I gave this town a 2 (generous rating) because while there were a lot of things I did not like about living there, I did like the scenery (it's a very green town) and some of the people were exceptionally friendly. Now, here's everything I hate about this place and good reasons you should NOT move to College Station. 1. Small town - It's a small town with all the small town handicaps, some of which will be listed below. 2. Car dependent - I don't drive, this town is not for people without vehicles. Public transportation is unreliable and very VERY limited. 3. The people - Yes there were plenty of kind people, but remember you're in Texas, and College Station is a red town, you'll feel that all around, regardless of the "southern hospitality". 4. Safety - I did not feel safe living in the town even though they reportedly had low crime rates. Again, it's a republican town, you will feel those republican values. 5. Employment - Aside from working in the food service industry, employment with the university, the job market in the area is very sparse. I struggled to find work in my industry and when the pandemic closed everything, the town became a ghost town. 6. Nothing to do - You will be bored. If you cannot leave to go to bigger towns/cities like Houston, Austin, Dallas, College Station will be a very VERY VERY boring place to live in. There isn't much to do or see. 7. Texas - The town is in Texas, that's it. 8. Weather - It can get really hot (dangerously hot) and very cold. The weather is unpredictable, there are a lot of severe weather events, mostly flooding, thunder, hurricanes, hail (which damages vehicles and causes accidents, yikes). 9. Republican State 10. DO NOT MOVE HERE!

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Growing Way Too Fast - 8/6/2014

My wife and I have lived here for most of the last 25 years. Bryan-College Station used to have a nice hometown feel, but the real estate developers have discovered that we have a big school here. The traffic has become like every other strip-mall town around DFW and Houston and the tackiness of the new buildings going up everywhere makes Conroe look like Paris. The university administration has adopted a "growth-for-growth's sake" mantra and the quality of education is plummeting. Luckily, we can retire and get out in a few years -- I just hope we can make it.

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Great place for students and families - 4/30/2011

College Station is really in the center of one of the most beautiful parts of the state of Texas, the Brazos Valley. The whole landscape is green meadows, post oak trees and small creeks and streams. There is abundant wildlife not seen in most other parts of the country that I've lived in (the western U.S.) such as armadillos, cardinals, gulf coast toads and dozens of breeds of birds for bird watchers. The winters are generally mild and the humidity is much lower than east Texas areas such as Houston, about an hour away. But the humidity is present enough to keep the landscape green nearly year round. College Station is ideally located close to Houston, about two hours from Austin, and three from Dallas; and the drive to each destination is easy and scenic. The city of Bryan borders just north of University Drive, and it definitely feels like the wrong side of the tracks. While College Station feels newer, cleaner and better designed, Bryan seems neglected and decaying. Most of the rents are very close in price between the two towns, so a decent place to live in College Station is not out of the question. As for rentals, CS is very affordable, even for newer, nicer apartments that college students can afford. The home prices, however, are higher than one would expect; they seem above that of Dallas, closer to those of Austin. But I guess this is because the town has very little traffic, country views from all sides, and low crime. The centerpiece of the town is Texas A&M University. The campus is huge and spectacular; with beautiful buildings, lots of green space and walking and biking routes. The university also runs a shuttle service for its students, which seems to go into the late evening hours. And for younger guys interested in Texas A&M, the college girls here are the most beautiful I've ever seen, and they are everywhere. Unlike many college towns, this one doesn't seem to attract as much of the "screw off" students who are only in school to party. The people of this area don't feel as classically Texan as Amarillo or other parts of Texas I've been to, but they reflect the tradition of being unfailingly polite and friendly, unlike most of the people in Austin. The city itself has many small, though underwhelming public parks. Short walking trails or small activity areas, combined with little garbage cleanup (most of the local waterways are choked with garbage and litter) make you seek out parks outside of town. There is little work here beyond service industries, so CS may not be great for long term living. But it's great for college students.

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College Station: A moderate city with no character - 8/7/2010

Positive Note: No traffic, everything within reach. Good schools. Negative Note: I have lived in Austin and Houston. I recently moved to College Station. In a decent area (not a posh area) the mortgage price and taxes are equal in comparison to Austin and Houston. This website indicate that mortgage price are very low compared to Austin and Houston- that is incorrect. The energy cost is little higher. City has very few and low profile art, music, weekend outings, exhibitions going on. There are very few high rated restaurants and the ones over there are pricey and overrated. Water tastes odd in College Station, so many of us buy water from grocery store on regular basis. End Remarks: A dull city without unique character. I wasn't very thrilled to stay in College Station.

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College Station: A moderate city with no character - 8/7/2010

Positive Note: No traffic, everything within reach. Good schools. Negative Note: I have lived in Austin and Houston. I recently moved to College Station. In a decent area (not a posh area) the mortgage price and taxes are equal in comparison to Austin and Houston. This website indicate that mortgage price are very low compared to Austin and Houston- that is incorrect. The energy cost is little higher. City has very few and low profile art, music, weekend outings, exhibitions going on. There are very few high rated restaurants and the ones over there are pricey and overrated. Water tastes odd in College Station, so many of us buy water from grocery store on regular basis. End Remarks: A dull city without unique character. I wasn't very thrilled to stay in College Station.

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Crime - 5/14/2009

The crime rate in this area is very low. People still leave their houses unlocked. However, the hurricanes of the 5 years have forced relocation of many from the Houston area and lower Louisiana area, bringing with them an increase of the crime rate.

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Housing Market - 9/13/2008

Even with all the national problems in the real estate markets and the stricter requirements for financing, Bryan/College Station had the most number of homes sold in July 2008. The housing market is strong and we have Texas A&M to contribute to that.

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Aggies - 8/5/2008

College Station is a good place to live if you are an AGGIE Fan!!

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Suprised and disappointed - 11/25/2007

You would think being a college town, College Station would be full of open minded diverse people. What I found (outside where all the college kids live) is town full of racist people. Very disappointing.

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College Stations Crime Rate - 10/5/2007

College Station still enjoys a crime rate that is much less than most cities in the United States. Crime definately has increased since the population has increased, but many people live without locking their doors at night here. College Station, in 2004 (latest data I could find) had less than 1/2 the national average of murders per capita and about 1/4 the number of robberies per capita. There are only two crimes in which we have greater than the national average, whereas in the other categories we enjoy much lower rates. Those are rape and theft. Unfortunately a college town is much more likely to have higher rates of both.

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College Station Housing - 10/5/2007

College Station is an awesome town! It offers it's residents a low cost of living and is equidistant to Houston and Austin. The general population is well educated and entertainment is growing more diverse. Many Aggies struggle with whether to leave here and most would come back given a chance! People are, for the most part, very friendly here and it's a great place to raise kids, especially since the college students are so active with the schools and the kids get a first hand view of college life (occasional visits to the campus and talking to Aggies) at a very young age. The housing market is great here, despite the national downturn. You can get quite a bit for your money here with some awesome amenities. We have an active market and some awesome neighborhoods. Give us a visit and find out!!!

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college town - 2/28/2007

This is a true college town. Not too big, not too small, but also not a lot to do. Lots of young people, lots of bars and lots of study hangouts. The little culture that exists revolves mostly around the university. Great place for young people just out on their own, but gets old rather quickly. Don't stay too long - the place has a reputation of keeping people many years after they intended to leave.

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Rising Crime Rate in College Station - 1/9/2007

About 10 years ago, College Station was a quiet college town with a very low crime rate. I have seen it increase since then and the higher crime rate has resulted in a lower quality of life for the city.

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Must have an "eye for fun" - 12/10/2006

College Station is filled with beautiful parks, is bike and pedestrian friendly, and has a lively music scene that make it a great place to live. The "valley" is home to a wide variety of wildlife and flora that are not only beautiful to look at but a tribute to conservationists everywhere. I have never noticed allergens, but then again, I have always been considered "healthy". There are many employment opportunities since the twin cities are always growing. Low rent in a college town helps keep expenses down. Diverse nightlife, great restaurants, and for the wine-o, there's a winery close by.

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conservative, humid and nothing to do - 7/22/2006

I have lived in the College Station area for over 10 years and have to say that it is the most conservative place I've been. For a college town you would think that people would be a little more open minded. Hunidity is a killer - and if you have allergies now, and relocate, plan on spending your time in the allergist's office. Not much to do here - Texas A&M brings in musicians, plays, etc. but it's pretty limited. It may be a relatively cost of living, but the what is your definition of "living"?

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College Station is - 5/27/2006

hot and humid...not a good place for allergy sufferers. People have told me it's because the city is in a "valley". I don't know if that's true or not. I moved here 6 months ago from NE Texas. I just thought my allergies were bad there. Here, even my dog is suffering!

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food sev. - 3/25/2006

CRIME RATE IN THE CITY OF COLLEGE STATION TX.

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