Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cedar Rapids, IA
VS
The Woodlands, TX
🏆 The Woodlands leads 14 of 23 categories
Cedar Rapids
Iowa
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$66,895
Violent Crime Index
69
Population
136,929 ✓ Larger
The Woodlands
Texas
14
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.
Cedar Rapids, IA
Pros
Homes cost $289k less ($167,900 vs $456,400)
Rent averages $837/mo less ($886 vs $1,723)
Violent crime is well below the national average (261.5 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (3.9%)
10% cheaper overall cost of living than The Woodlands
Cons
Median income trails The Woodlands by $75,489/yr
Property crime (2689.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
The Woodlands, TX
Pros
Households earn $75,489 more per year on average
10% less violent crime than Cedar Rapids
More college-educated — 66.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (235.4 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 63°F vs 28°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $456,400
Higher rents — median is $1,723/mo
Cost of living runs 10% higher than Cedar Rapids
Higher unemployment (5.3% vs 3.9%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Cedar Rapids
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 90.0 vs 100.2 (100 = US avg)
Cedar Rapids
Median Home Value
$289k less
$167,900 vs $456,400
Cedar Rapids
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
3.9% vs 5.3% unemployment
The Woodlands
Median Income
$75,489
$142,384 vs $66,895/yr
The Woodlands
Violent Crime
10% lower
235.4 vs 261.5 per 100k
The Woodlands
Summer Heat
11.4°F warmer
July avg high 94.2°F vs 82.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cedar Rapids, IA | The Woodlands, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.0 ✓ Cheaper | 100.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $167,900 ✓ Lower | $456,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $886 ✓ Lower | $1,723⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $66,895 | $142,384 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.8 min ✓ Shorter | 28.2 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 10.6% | 17.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 93 | 62 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 69 | 62 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 128⚠ High | 61 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) | A (128) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.9% | 66.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 94.0% | 97.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cedar Rapids Comm School District | CONROE ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 27.9°F | 63.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.8°F | 94.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 35.9" ✓ Drier | 54.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 34.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 136,929 ✓ Larger | 118,402 |
| Median Age | 37.0 | 40.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 69.6% | 72.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.5% | 27.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.2% ✓ More | 13.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cedar Rapids's cost of living index is 90.0 vs The Woodlands's 100.2 (US average = 100).
Cedar Rapids is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, The Woodlands leads 14 of 23 categories. Cedar Rapids wins 9 and The Woodlands wins 14. 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 Cedar Rapids to The Woodlands or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($167,900 vs $456,400 median home), income ($66,895 vs $142,384), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cedar Rapids, IA and The Woodlands, TX are about 842 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.