Updated 2026 · Based on median market data for College Station, TX
The median monthly rent in College Station, TX is $1,620, translating to $19,440 in annual gross rental income per unit. The rent-to-price ratio is 0.53% — well below the 1% rule, making pure cash flow investing challenging at median prices.
Renters in College Station spend approximately 31% of the local median household income ($63,735) on rent. This exceeds the standard 30% affordability threshold, suggesting rent growth may face resistance — but it also means a large portion of the population finds buying even more out of reach, supporting rental demand.
The vacancy rate in College Station is 5.8%. This is a healthy vacancy rate that indicates balanced supply and demand. You should be able to find quality tenants without extended vacancies, though expect normal turnover periods of 2-4 weeks between tenants. Population growth of 1.8% annually is actively adding rental demand.
College Station's GRM (price divided by annual rent) is 15.7x. A GRM between 12-16x is moderate and typical of balanced markets. Deals can work but you need to keep expenses controlled. For comparison, the national average GRM for investment-grade rentals is approximately 13-15x.
At the median rent of $1,620/mo, a single-family rental in College Station generates approximately $19,440 in gross annual income. After accounting for 5.8% vacancy ($1,128 lost), property taxes of $5,246, insurance (~$1,220), and maintenance (~$1,220), the estimated NOI is $10,626 per year, or $886/mo.
College Station vs Texas state average and national average across key investment metrics. College Station's cap rate is below both benchmarks — deal sourcing is critical here.