The College Station metro is home to 273,280 people (up 7.6% over five years), with a median household income of $59,691. Typical rent of $1,504/month works out to 30.2% of the median household income — near the 30% affordability threshold (Census ACS + Zillow, September 2026).
The share of College Station's workforce by sector — the base of tenant demand:
| Sector | % of workforce |
|---|---|
| Education & health care | 30.8% |
| Arts, food & hospitality | 11.3% |
| Retail trade | 11.1% |
| Professional & management | 10.2% |
| Construction | 7.2% |
Education & health care is the metro's largest employment base — sectors like education and health care are recession-resilient anchors for rental demand.
Rents at 30.2% of median income leave moderate headroom; underwrite rent growth conservatively. Market pricing, yields and the Star Score live on the College Station market page; run a deal in the calculator.
At the 30%-of-income affordability rule, typical rent of $1,504/month suggests a household income around $60,000/year. The metro's median household income is $59,691.
By workforce share: Education & health care (30.8%), Arts, food & hospitality (11.3%), Retail trade (11.1%) (Census ACS 5-year).