Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Birmingham, AL
VS
The Woodlands, TX
🏆 The Woodlands leads 17 of 23 categories
Birmingham
Alabama
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$42,464
Violent Crime Index
328⚠ High
Population
200,431 ✓ Larger
The Woodlands
Texas
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High
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.
Birmingham, AL
Pros
Homes cost $333k less ($123,000 vs $456,400)
Rent averages $728/mo less ($995 vs $1,723)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.6)
8% cheaper overall cost of living than The Woodlands
Cons
Median income trails The Woodlands by $99,920/yr
Violent crime (1246.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4031.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.5% vs 5.3%)
The Woodlands, TX
Pros
Households earn $99,920 more per year on average
81% less violent crime than Birmingham
More college-educated — 66.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.2 pts lower (5.3%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (235.4 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 63°F vs 55°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $456,400
Higher rents — median is $1,723/mo
Longer commutes — 28.2 min average each way
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Birmingham
Key Differences at a Glance
Birmingham
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 92.6 vs 100.2 (100 = US avg)
Birmingham
Median Home Value
$333k less
$123,000 vs $456,400
The Woodlands
Median Income
$99,920
$142,384 vs $42,464/yr
The Woodlands
Violent Crime
81% lower
235.4 vs 1246.6 per 100k
The Woodlands
Unemployment
2.2 pp lower
5.3% vs 7.5% unemployment
The Woodlands
Summer Heat
3.2°F warmer
July avg high 94.2°F vs 91.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Birmingham, AL | The Woodlands, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.6 ✓ Cheaper | 100.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $123,000 ✓ Lower | $456,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $995 ✓ Lower | $1,723⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $42,464 | $142,384 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.5%⚠ High | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.6 min ✓ Shorter | 28.2 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.6% | 17.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 274⚠ High | 62 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 328⚠ High | 62 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 192⚠ High | 61 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (89) | A (128) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.2:1 | 15.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 29.4% | 66.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.1% | 97.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Birmingham City | CONROE ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.5°F | 63.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 91.0°F | 94.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 58.1" | 54.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.4" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 200,431 ✓ Larger | 118,402 |
| Median Age | 35.9 | 40.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.9% | 72.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.5% | 27.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.2% ✓ More | 13.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Birmingham's cost of living index is 92.6 vs The Woodlands's 100.2 (US average = 100).
Birmingham is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, The Woodlands leads 17 of 23 categories. Birmingham 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 Birmingham to The Woodlands or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($123,000 vs $456,400 median home), income ($42,464 vs $142,384), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Birmingham, AL and The Woodlands, TX are about 561 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.