Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Denver, CO
VS
The Woodlands, TX
🏆 The Woodlands leads 16 of 23 categories
Denver
Colorado
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$85,853
Violent Crime Index
261⚠ High
Population
710,800 ✓ Larger
The Woodlands
Texas
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
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.
Denver, CO
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (4.7%)
Cons
Median income trails The Woodlands by $56,531/yr
Violent crime (993.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $540,400
Property crime (4761.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
The Woodlands, TX
Pros
Households earn $56,531 more per year on average
76% less violent crime than Denver
Violent crime is well below the national average (235.4 vs 380/100k)
Homes cost $84k less ($456,400 vs $540,400)
More college-educated — 66.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 63°F vs 47°F
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Denver
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
4.7% vs 5.3% unemployment
The Woodlands
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 100.2 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
The Woodlands
Median Income
$56,531
$142,384 vs $85,853/yr
The Woodlands
Violent Crime
76% lower
235.4 vs 993.0 per 100k
The Woodlands
Median Home Value
$84k less
$456,400 vs $540,400
The Woodlands
Summer Heat
4.0°F warmer
July avg high 94.2°F vs 90.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Denver, CO | The Woodlands, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High | 100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $540,400⚠ High | $456,400⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,665⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,723⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $85,853 | $142,384 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.3 min ✓ Shorter | 28.2 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 20.9% ✓ Higher | 17.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 247⚠ High | 62 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 261⚠ High | 62 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 227⚠ High | 61 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) | A (128) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 54.2% | 66.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.5% | 97.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | School District No. 1 in the county of Denver and State of C | CONROE ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 46.5°F | 63.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.2°F | 94.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 15.4" ✓ Drier | 54.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.0" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 710,800 ✓ Larger | 118,402 |
| Median Age | 34.9 | 40.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 49.4% | 72.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.7% | 27.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.0% | 13.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Denver's cost of living index is 105.5 vs The Woodlands's 100.2 (US average = 100).
The Woodlands is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, The Woodlands leads 16 of 23 categories. Denver wins 7 and The Woodlands wins 16. 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 Denver to The Woodlands or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($540,400 vs $456,400 median home), income ($85,853 vs $142,384), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Denver, CO and The Woodlands, TX are about 848 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.