Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Elizabeth, NJ
VS
The Woodlands, TX
🏆 The Woodlands leads 17 of 23 categories
Elizabeth
New Jersey
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$59,939
Violent Crime Index
108⚠ High
Population
135,665 ✓ Larger
The Woodlands
Texas
17
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.
Elizabeth, NJ
Pros
Homes cost $98k less ($358,400 vs $456,400)
Rent averages $333/mo less ($1,390 vs $1,723)
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 94°F
Smaller class sizes — 13.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails The Woodlands by $82,445/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Cost of living runs 12% higher than The Woodlands
Property crime (2657.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
The Woodlands, TX
Pros
Households earn $82,445 more per year on average
More college-educated — 66.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
42% less violent crime than Elizabeth
Violent crime is well below the national average (235.4 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (5.3%)
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Elizabeth
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $456,400
Higher rents — median is $1,723/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Elizabeth
Median Home Value
$98k less
$358,400 vs $456,400
The Woodlands
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 100.2 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
The Woodlands
Median Income
$82,445
$142,384 vs $59,939/yr
The Woodlands
Violent Crime
42% lower
235.4 vs 408.7 per 100k
The Woodlands
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
5.3% vs 5.9% unemployment
The Woodlands
Summer Heat
7.3°F warmer
July avg high 94.2°F vs 86.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Elizabeth, NJ | The Woodlands, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 112.5⚠ High | 100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $358,400⚠ High ✓ Lower | $456,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,390⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,723⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,939 | $142,384 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.7 min ✓ Shorter | 28.2 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 4.8% | 17.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 115⚠ High | 62 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High | 62 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 127⚠ High | 61 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (91) | A (128) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 14.1% | 66.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 74.3% | 97.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Elizabeth Public Schools | CONROE ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 40.0°F | 63.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.9°F | 94.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.6" ✓ Drier | 54.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 31.5" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 135,665 ✓ Larger | 118,402 |
| Median Age | 35.7 | 40.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 25.1% | 72.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 25.4% | 27.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.4% | 13.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Elizabeth's cost of living index is 112.5 vs The Woodlands's 100.2 (US average = 100).
The Woodlands is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, The Woodlands leads 17 of 23 categories. Elizabeth wins 6 and The Woodlands wins 17. 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 Elizabeth to The Woodlands or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($358,400 vs $456,400 median home), income ($59,939 vs $142,384), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Elizabeth, NJ and The Woodlands, TX are about 1,397 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.