Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Conroe, TX
VS
Fresno, CA
🏆 Conroe leads 16 of 22 categories
Conroe
Texas
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,630 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
64 ✓ Safer
Population
92,475
Fresno
California
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$63,001
Violent Crime Index
194⚠ High
Population
541,528 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Conroe, TX
Pros
67% less violent crime than Fresno
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.6 pts lower (3.4%)
Homes cost $59k less ($262,500 vs $321,800)
Violent crime is well below the national average (243.5 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $8,629 more per year on average
More college-educated — 32.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Fresno, CA
Pros
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Cons
Violent crime (735.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $321,800
Median income trails Conroe by $8,629/yr
Property crime (3271.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Conroe
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 100.2 vs 105.0 (100 = US avg)
Conroe
Median Income
$8,629
$71,630 vs $63,001/yr
Conroe
Violent Crime
67% lower
243.5 vs 735.5 per 100k
Conroe
Median Home Value
$59k less
$262,500 vs $321,800
Conroe
Unemployment
5.6 pp lower
3.4% vs 9.0% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Conroe, TX | Fresno, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 105.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $262,500 ✓ Lower | $321,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,255 | $1,227 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,630 ✓ Higher | $63,001 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.4% ✓ Lower | 9.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.6 min | 22.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.9% ✓ Higher | 8.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 70 ✓ Safer | 178⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 64 ✓ Safer | 194⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 78 ✓ Safer | 156⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (98) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.2% ✓ Higher | 24.4% |
| High School or Higher | 86.5% ✓ Higher | 79.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | CONROE ISD | Fresno Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 62.7°F ✓ Warmer | 55.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.9°F | 97.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.0" | 11.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 92,475 | 541,528 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.5 ✓ Older | 32.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.1% ✓ Higher | 48.1% |
| Under 18 | 24.3% | 27.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.2% ✓ More | 11.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Conroe's cost of living index is 100.2 vs Fresno's 105.0 (US average = 100).
Conroe is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Conroe leads 16 of 22 categories. Conroe wins 16 and Fresno wins 6. 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 Conroe to Fresno or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($262,500 vs $321,800 median home), income ($71,630 vs $63,001), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Conroe, TX and Fresno, CA are about 1,464 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.