Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chico, CA
VS
The Woodlands, TX
🏆 The Woodlands leads 17 of 23 categories
Chico
California
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$65,932
Violent Crime Index
184⚠ High
Population
102,790
The Woodlands
Texas
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$142,384 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
62 ✓ Safer
Population
118,402 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Chico, CA
Pros
Rent averages $363/mo less ($1,360 vs $1,723)
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
Homes cost $29k less ($427,600 vs $456,400)
Cons
Median income trails The Woodlands by $76,452/yr
Violent crime (699.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (6.9% vs 5.3%)
Cost of living runs 4% higher than The Woodlands
The Woodlands, TX
Pros
Households earn $76,452 more per year on average
66% less violent crime than Chico
Violent crime is well below the national average (235.4 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 66.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (5.3%)
Milder winters — January highs near 63°F vs 56°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,723/mo
Longer commutes — 28.2 min average each way
Pricier housing — median home is $456,400
Key Differences at a Glance
Chico
Median Home Value
$29k less
$427,600 vs $456,400
The Woodlands
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 100.2 vs 104.6 (100 = US avg)
The Woodlands
Median Income
$76,452
$142,384 vs $65,932/yr
The Woodlands
Violent Crime
66% lower
235.4 vs 699.2 per 100k
The Woodlands
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
5.3% vs 6.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chico, CA | The Woodlands, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.6⚠ High | 100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $427,600⚠ High ✓ Lower | $456,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,360⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,723⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $65,932 | $142,384 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.5 min ✓ Shorter | 28.2 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 11.5% | 17.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 147⚠ High | 62 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 184⚠ High | 62 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 90 | 61 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (112) | A (128) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 41.3% | 66.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 93.2% | 97.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Inspire School of Arts and Sciences District | CONROE ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.1°F | 63.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 95.2°F ✓ Warmer | 94.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 28.3" ✓ Drier | 54.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 102,790 | 118,402 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 30.4 | 40.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.1% | 72.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.7% | 27.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.5% | 13.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chico's cost of living index is 104.6 vs The Woodlands's 100.2 (US average = 100).
The Woodlands is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, The Woodlands leads 17 of 23 categories. Chico 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 Chico to The Woodlands or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($427,600 vs $456,400 median home), income ($65,932 vs $142,384), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chico, CA and The Woodlands, TX are about 1,622 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.