Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Carlsbad, CA
VS
The Woodlands, TX
🏆 The Woodlands leads 15 of 22 categories
Carlsbad
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$134,139
Violent Crime Index
52 ✓ Safer
Population
114,745
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.
Carlsbad, CA
Pros
15% less violent crime than The Woodlands
Violent crime is well below the national average (199.1 vs 380/100k)
Cooler summers — July highs near 74°F vs 94°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,070,500
Higher rents — median is $2,477/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.5)
Cost of living runs 11% higher than The Woodlands
The Woodlands, TX
Pros
Homes cost $614k less ($456,400 vs $1,070,500)
Rent averages $754/mo less ($1,723 vs $2,477)
Violent crime is well below the national average (235.4 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (5.3%)
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Carlsbad
More college-educated — 66.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Carlsbad
Violent Crime
15% lower
199.1 vs 235.4 per 100k
The Woodlands
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 100.2 vs 111.5 (100 = US avg)
The Woodlands
Median Income
$8,245
$142,384 vs $134,139/yr
The Woodlands
Median Home Value
$614k less
$456,400 vs $1,070,500
The Woodlands
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
5.3% vs 6.0% unemployment
The Woodlands
Summer Heat
20.0°F warmer
July avg high 94.2°F vs 74.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Carlsbad, CA | The Woodlands, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.5⚠ High | 100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $1,070,500⚠ High | $456,400⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,477⚠ High | $1,723⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $134,139 | $142,384 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.0%⚠ High | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.5 min⚠ High | 28.2 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 24.8% ✓ Higher | 17.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 60 ✓ Safer | 62 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 52 ✓ Safer | 62 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 | 61 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) | A (128) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.7:1 | 15.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 59.5% | 66.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 95.1% | 97.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Carlsbad Unified | CONROE ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.0°F ✓ Warmer | 63.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 74.2°F | 94.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.4" ✓ Drier | 54.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,745 | 118,402 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 42.4 ✓ Older | 40.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.2% | 72.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.8% | 27.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.8% ✓ More | 13.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Carlsbad's cost of living index is 111.5 vs The Woodlands's 100.2 (US average = 100).
The Woodlands is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, The Woodlands leads 15 of 22 categories. Carlsbad 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 Carlsbad to The Woodlands or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($1,070,500 vs $456,400 median home), income ($134,139 vs $142,384), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Carlsbad, CA and The Woodlands, TX are about 1,294 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.