Head-to-Head · City Comparison
College Station, TX
VS
The Woodlands, TX
🏆 College Station leads 13 of 22 categories
College Station
Texas
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$52,397
Violent Crime Index
45 ✓ Safer
Population
120,451 ✓ Larger
The Woodlands
Texas
9
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.
College Station, TX
Pros
Rent averages $594/mo less ($1,129 vs $1,723)
Homes cost $151k less ($305,800 vs $456,400)
28% less violent crime than The Woodlands
Violent crime is well below the national average (170.5 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (4.7%)
Cons
Median income trails The Woodlands by $89,987/yr
The Woodlands, TX
Pros
Households earn $89,987 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (235.4 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 66.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,723/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $456,400
Cost of living runs 10% higher than College Station
Longer commutes — 28.2 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
College Station
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 90.7 vs 100.2 (100 = US avg)
College Station
Violent Crime
28% lower
170.5 vs 235.4 per 100k
College Station
Median Home Value
$151k less
$305,800 vs $456,400
College Station
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
4.7% vs 5.3% unemployment
The Woodlands
Median Income
$89,987
$142,384 vs $52,397/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | College Station, TX | The Woodlands, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.7 ✓ Cheaper | 100.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $305,800⚠ High ✓ Lower | $456,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,129 ✓ Lower | $1,723⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $52,397 | $142,384 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 16.9 min ✓ Shorter | 28.2 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 11.3% | 17.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 48 ✓ Safer | 62 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 45 ✓ Safer | 62 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 53 ✓ Safer | 61 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (129) ✓ Better | A (128) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 58.3% | 66.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 95.3% | 97.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | COLLEGE STATION ISD | CONROE ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 61.7°F | 63.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 95.4°F ✓ Warmer | 94.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.2" ✓ Drier | 54.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 120,451 ✓ Larger | 118,402 |
| Median Age | 22.9 | 40.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 36.3% | 72.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.5% | 27.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 6.8% | 13.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
College Station's cost of living index is 90.7 vs The Woodlands's 100.2 (US average = 100).
College Station is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, College Station leads 13 of 22 categories. College Station wins 13 and The Woodlands wins 9. 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 College Station to The Woodlands or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($305,800 vs $456,400 median home), income ($52,397 vs $142,384), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
College Station, TX and The Woodlands, TX are about 55 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.