Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Boca Raton, FL
VS
The Woodlands, TX
🏆 The Woodlands leads 15 of 22 categories
Boca Raton
Florida
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$95,570
Violent Crime Index
45 ✓ Safer
Population
97,980
The Woodlands
Texas
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$142,384 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
62
Population
118,402 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Boca Raton, FL
Pros
27% less violent crime than The Woodlands
Violent crime is well below the national average (171.0 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 76°F vs 63°F
Cons
Median income trails The Woodlands by $46,814/yr
Pricier housing — median home is $597,100
Higher rents — median is $2,170/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
The Woodlands, TX
Pros
Households earn $46,814 more per year on average
Homes cost $141k less ($456,400 vs $597,100)
Rent averages $447/mo less ($1,723 vs $2,170)
Violent crime is well below the national average (235.4 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (5.3%)
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Boca Raton
Cons
Longer commutes — 28.2 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Boca Raton
Violent Crime
27% lower
171.0 vs 235.4 per 100k
The Woodlands
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 100.2 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
The Woodlands
Median Income
$46,814
$142,384 vs $95,570/yr
The Woodlands
Median Home Value
$141k less
$456,400 vs $597,100
The Woodlands
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
5.3% vs 5.9% unemployment
The Woodlands
Summer Heat
3.7°F warmer
July avg high 94.2°F vs 90.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Boca Raton, FL | The Woodlands, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.8⚠ High | 100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $597,100⚠ High | $456,400⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,170⚠ High | $1,723⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $95,570 | $142,384 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.6 min ✓ Shorter | 28.2 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 18.0% ✓ Higher | 17.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 59 ✓ Safer | 62 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 45 ✓ Safer | 62 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 80 | 61 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) | A (128) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.4:1 | 15.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 59.0% | 66.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 96.0% | 97.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | PALM BEACH | CONROE ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 76.3°F ✓ Warmer | 63.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.5°F | 94.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 65.6" | 54.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 97,980 | 118,402 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 47.1 ✓ Older | 40.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 65.7% | 72.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 17.0% | 27.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 25.7% ✓ More | 13.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Boca Raton's cost of living index is 111.8 vs The Woodlands's 100.2 (US average = 100).
The Woodlands is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, The Woodlands leads 15 of 22 categories. Boca Raton wins 7 and The Woodlands wins 15. 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 Boca Raton to The Woodlands or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($597,100 vs $456,400 median home), income ($95,570 vs $142,384), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Boca Raton, FL and The Woodlands, TX are about 973 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.