Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Atlanta, GA
VS
The Woodlands, TX
🏆 The Woodlands leads 16 of 23 categories
Atlanta
Georgia
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$77,655
Violent Crime Index
221⚠ High
Population
494,838 ✓ Larger
The Woodlands
Texas
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$142,384 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
62 ✓ Safer
Population
118,402
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Atlanta, GA
Pros
Homes cost $61k less ($395,600 vs $456,400)
Rent averages $211/mo less ($1,512 vs $1,723)
Smaller class sizes — 12.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails The Woodlands by $64,729/yr
Violent crime (840.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3748.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
The Woodlands, TX
Pros
Households earn $64,729 more per year on average
72% less violent crime than Atlanta
Violent crime is well below the national average (235.4 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (5.3%)
More college-educated — 66.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 63°F vs 54°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $456,400
Higher rents — median is $1,723/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Atlanta
Median Home Value
$61k less
$395,600 vs $456,400
The Woodlands
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 100.2 vs 100.9 (100 = US avg)
The Woodlands
Median Income
$64,729
$142,384 vs $77,655/yr
The Woodlands
Violent Crime
72% lower
235.4 vs 840.6 per 100k
The Woodlands
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
5.3% vs 5.8% unemployment
The Woodlands
Summer Heat
4.2°F warmer
July avg high 94.2°F vs 90.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Atlanta, GA | The Woodlands, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.9⚠ High | 100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $395,600⚠ High ✓ Lower | $456,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,512⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,723⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $77,655 | $142,384 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.5 min ✓ Shorter | 28.2 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 23.2% ✓ Higher | 17.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 204⚠ High | 62 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 221⚠ High | 62 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 178⚠ High | 61 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (120) | A (128) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 57.3% | 66.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 92.9% | 97.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Atlanta Public Schools | CONROE ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 53.7°F | 63.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.0°F | 94.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.8" ✓ Drier | 54.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.5" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 494,838 ✓ Larger | 118,402 |
| Median Age | 33.6 | 40.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.7% | 72.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 17.2% | 27.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.0% | 13.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Atlanta's cost of living index is 100.9 vs The Woodlands's 100.2 (US average = 100).
The Woodlands is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, The Woodlands leads 16 of 23 categories. Atlanta wins 7 and The Woodlands wins 16. 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 Atlanta to The Woodlands or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($395,600 vs $456,400 median home), income ($77,655 vs $142,384), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Atlanta, GA and The Woodlands, TX are about 695 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.