Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Alexandria, VA
VS
The Woodlands, TX
🏆 The Woodlands leads 17 of 23 categories
Alexandria
Virginia
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$113,179
Violent Crime Index
58 ✓ Safer
Population
157,594 ✓ Larger
The Woodlands
Texas
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$142,384 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
62
Population
118,402
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Alexandria, VA
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.1 pts lower (3.2%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (219.1 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $655,700
Median income trails The Woodlands by $29,205/yr
Higher rents — median is $1,983/mo
Property crime (2640.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
The Woodlands, TX
Pros
Homes cost $199k less ($456,400 vs $655,700)
Households earn $29,205 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (235.4 vs 380/100k)
Rent averages $260/mo less ($1,723 vs $1,983)
Milder winters — January highs near 63°F vs 45°F
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Alexandria
Cons
Higher unemployment (5.3% vs 3.2%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Alexandria
Violent Crime
7% lower
219.1 vs 235.4 per 100k
Alexandria
Unemployment
2.1 pp lower
3.2% vs 5.3% unemployment
The Woodlands
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 100.2 vs 108.6 (100 = US avg)
The Woodlands
Median Income
$29,205
$142,384 vs $113,179/yr
The Woodlands
Median Home Value
$199k less
$456,400 vs $655,700
The Woodlands
Summer Heat
4.6°F warmer
July avg high 94.2°F vs 89.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Alexandria, VA | The Woodlands, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.6⚠ High | 100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $655,700⚠ High | $456,400⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,983⚠ High | $1,723⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $113,179 | $142,384 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.2% ✓ Lower | 5.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.1 min⚠ High | 28.2 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 22.1% ✓ Higher | 17.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 85 | 62 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 58 ✓ Safer | 62 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High | 61 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) | A (128) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 66.0% | 66.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 93.7% | 97.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Alexandria City Public Schools | CONROE ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.8°F | 63.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.6°F | 94.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.8" ✓ Drier | 54.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 13.7" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 157,594 ✓ Larger | 118,402 |
| Median Age | 37.4 | 40.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.7% | 72.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.1% | 27.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.3% | 13.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Alexandria's cost of living index is 108.6 vs The Woodlands's 100.2 (US average = 100).
The Woodlands is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, The Woodlands leads 17 of 23 categories. Alexandria wins 6 and The Woodlands wins 17. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Alexandria to The Woodlands or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($655,700 vs $456,400 median home), income ($113,179 vs $142,384), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Alexandria, VA and The Woodlands, TX are about 1,204 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.