Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fayetteville, NC
VS
The Woodlands, TX
🏆 The Woodlands leads 17 of 23 categories
Fayetteville
North Carolina
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$53,424
Violent Crime Index
174⚠ High
Population
208,697 ✓ Larger
The Woodlands
Texas
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High
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.
Fayetteville, NC
Pros
Homes cost $298k less ($158,500 vs $456,400)
Rent averages $606/mo less ($1,117 vs $1,723)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
9% cheaper overall cost of living than The Woodlands
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.4)
Cons
Median income trails The Woodlands by $88,960/yr
Violent crime (660.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3094.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.4% vs 5.3%)
The Woodlands, TX
Pros
Households earn $88,960 more per year on average
64% less violent crime than Fayetteville
More college-educated — 66.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.1 pts lower (5.3%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (235.4 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 63°F vs 54°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $456,400
Higher rents — median is $1,723/mo
Cost of living runs 9% higher than Fayetteville
Longer commutes — 28.2 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Fayetteville
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 91.4 vs 100.2 (100 = US avg)
Fayetteville
Median Home Value
$298k less
$158,500 vs $456,400
The Woodlands
Median Income
$88,960
$142,384 vs $53,424/yr
The Woodlands
Violent Crime
64% lower
235.4 vs 660.2 per 100k
The Woodlands
Unemployment
3.1 pp lower
5.3% vs 8.4% unemployment
The Woodlands
Summer Heat
3.3°F warmer
July avg high 94.2°F vs 90.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fayetteville, NC | The Woodlands, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.4 ✓ Cheaper | 100.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $158,500 ✓ Lower | $456,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,117 ✓ Lower | $1,723⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $53,424 | $142,384 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.4%⚠ High | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.0 min ✓ Shorter | 28.2 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 5.4% | 17.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 163⚠ High | 62 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 174⚠ High | 62 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 147⚠ High | 61 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | A (128) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.8:1 | 15.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.5% | 66.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 93.1% | 97.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cumberland County Schools | CONROE ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.1°F | 63.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.9°F | 94.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.9" ✓ Drier | 54.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 208,697 ✓ Larger | 118,402 |
| Median Age | 30.5 | 40.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.4% | 72.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.6% | 27.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.6% | 13.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fayetteville's cost of living index is 91.4 vs The Woodlands's 100.2 (US average = 100).
Fayetteville is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, The Woodlands leads 17 of 23 categories. Fayetteville 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 Fayetteville to The Woodlands or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($158,500 vs $456,400 median home), income ($53,424 vs $142,384), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fayetteville, NC and The Woodlands, TX are about 1,019 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.