Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cary, NC
VS
The Woodlands, TX
🏆 The Woodlands leads 12 of 22 categories
Cary
North Carolina
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$125,317
Violent Crime Index
19 ✓ Safer
Population
174,880 ✓ Larger
The Woodlands
Texas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High
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.
Cary, NC
Pros
70% less violent crime than The Woodlands
Violent crime is well below the national average (71.0 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.9 pts lower (3.4%)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Rent averages $185/mo less ($1,538 vs $1,723)
More college-educated — 70.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails The Woodlands by $17,067/yr
Pricier housing — median home is $477,400
The Woodlands, TX
Pros
Violent crime is well below the national average (235.4 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $17,067 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 63°F vs 51°F
Homes cost $21k less ($456,400 vs $477,400)
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,723/mo
Higher unemployment (5.3% vs 3.4%)
Longer commutes — 28.2 min average each way
Cost of living runs 2% higher than Cary
Key Differences at a Glance
Cary
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 98.0 vs 100.2 (100 = US avg)
Cary
Violent Crime
70% lower
71.0 vs 235.4 per 100k
Cary
Unemployment
1.9 pp lower
3.4% vs 5.3% unemployment
The Woodlands
Median Income
$17,067
$142,384 vs $125,317/yr
The Woodlands
Median Home Value
$21k less
$456,400 vs $477,400
The Woodlands
Summer Heat
5.2°F warmer
July avg high 94.2°F vs 89.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cary, NC | The Woodlands, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.0 ✓ Cheaper | 100.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $477,400⚠ High | $456,400⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,538⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,723⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $125,317 | $142,384 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.4% ✓ Lower | 5.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.8 min ✓ Shorter | 28.2 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 28.3% ✓ Higher | 17.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 36 ✓ Safer | 62 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 19 ✓ Safer | 62 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 63 | 61 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (118) | A (128) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.3:1 | 15.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 70.3% ✓ Higher | 66.3% |
| High School or Higher | 96.8% | 97.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Wake County Schools | CONROE ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.9°F | 63.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.0°F | 94.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.3" ✓ Drier | 54.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 4.8" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 174,880 ✓ Larger | 118,402 |
| Median Age | 39.4 | 40.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 66.8% | 72.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.5% | 27.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.2% | 13.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cary's cost of living index is 98.0 vs The Woodlands's 100.2 (US average = 100).
Cary is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, The Woodlands leads 12 of 22 categories. Cary wins 10 and The Woodlands wins 12. 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 Cary to The Woodlands or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($477,400 vs $456,400 median home), income ($125,317 vs $142,384), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cary, NC and The Woodlands, TX are about 1,040 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.