Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Elgin, IL
VS
The Woodlands, TX
🏆 The Woodlands leads 18 of 23 categories
Elgin
Illinois
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$85,998
Violent Crime Index
70
Population
114,190
The Woodlands
Texas
18
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.
Elgin, IL
Pros
Homes cost $214k less ($242,500 vs $456,400)
Rent averages $533/mo less ($1,190 vs $1,723)
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 94°F
Cons
Median income trails The Woodlands by $56,386/yr
Higher unemployment (6.0% vs 5.3%)
Cost of living runs 2% higher than The Woodlands
The Woodlands, TX
Pros
Households earn $56,386 more per year on average
More college-educated — 66.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
12% less violent crime than Elgin
Violent crime is well below the national average (235.4 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 63°F vs 30°F
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (5.3%)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $456,400
Higher rents — median is $1,723/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Elgin
Median Home Value
$214k less
$242,500 vs $456,400
The Woodlands
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 100.2 vs 102.6 (100 = US avg)
The Woodlands
Median Income
$56,386
$142,384 vs $85,998/yr
The Woodlands
Violent Crime
12% lower
235.4 vs 266.7 per 100k
The Woodlands
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
5.3% vs 6.0% unemployment
The Woodlands
Summer Heat
10.1°F warmer
July avg high 94.2°F vs 84.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Elgin, IL | The Woodlands, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.6⚠ High | 100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $242,500 ✓ Lower | $456,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,190 ✓ Lower | $1,723⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $85,998 | $142,384 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.0%⚠ High | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.3 min⚠ High | 28.2 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.6% | 17.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 63 | 62 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 | 62 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 52 ✓ Safer | 61 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) | A (128) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.7% | 66.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.1% | 97.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | SD U-46 | CONROE ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 30.1°F | 63.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.1°F | 94.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 39.9" ✓ Drier | 54.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 32.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,190 | 118,402 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.5 | 40.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 71.2% | 72.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 26.2% | 27.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.5% | 13.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Elgin's cost of living index is 102.6 vs The Woodlands's 100.2 (US average = 100).
The Woodlands is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, The Woodlands leads 18 of 23 categories. Elgin wins 5 and The Woodlands wins 18. 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 Elgin to The Woodlands or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($242,500 vs $456,400 median home), income ($85,998 vs $142,384), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Elgin, IL and The Woodlands, TX are about 912 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.