Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Conroe, TX
VS
Portsmouth, VA
🏆 Conroe leads 12 of 22 categories
Conroe
Texas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,630 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
64 ✓ Safer
Population
92,475
Portsmouth
Virginia
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$57,154
Violent Crime Index
198⚠ High
Population
97,384 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Conroe, TX
Pros
68% less violent crime than Portsmouth
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.2 pts lower (3.4%)
Households earn $14,476 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (243.5 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 32.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 63°F vs 49°F
Cons
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Portsmouth
Portsmouth, VA
Pros
Homes cost $49k less ($213,300 vs $262,500)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 88°F vs 95°F
Smaller class sizes — 13.7:1 student-teacher ratio
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Conroe
Cons
Violent crime (752.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Conroe by $14,476/yr
Property crime (3860.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.6% vs 3.4%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Conroe
Median Income
$14,476
$71,630 vs $57,154/yr
Conroe
Violent Crime
68% lower
243.5 vs 752.4 per 100k
Conroe
Unemployment
3.2 pp lower
3.4% vs 6.6% unemployment
Conroe
Summer Heat
6.9°F warmer
July avg high 94.9°F vs 88.0°F
Portsmouth
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 100.2 (100 = US avg)
Portsmouth
Median Home Value
$49k less
$213,300 vs $262,500
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Conroe, TX | Portsmouth, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.2⚠ High | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $262,500 | $213,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,255 | $1,225 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,630 ✓ Higher | $57,154 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.4% ✓ Lower | 6.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.6 min | 23.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.9% ✓ Higher | 6.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 70 ✓ Safer | 192⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 64 ✓ Safer | 198⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 78 ✓ Safer | 184⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (98) ✓ Better | B- (94) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.3:1 | 13.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.2% ✓ Higher | 21.2% |
| High School or Higher | 86.5% | 89.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | CONROE ISD | Portsmouth City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 62.7°F ✓ Warmer | 48.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.9°F ✓ Warmer | 88.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.0" | 50.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 3.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 92,475 | 97,384 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.5 | 35.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.1% | 56.1% |
| Under 18 | 24.3% ✓ More | 23.1% |
| Over 65 | 14.2% | 15.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Conroe's cost of living index is 100.2 vs Portsmouth's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Portsmouth is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Conroe leads 12 of 22 categories. Conroe wins 12 and Portsmouth wins 10. 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 Portsmouth or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($262,500 vs $213,300 median home), income ($71,630 vs $57,154), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Conroe, TX and Portsmouth, VA are about 1,187 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.