Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Gresham, OR
VS
The Woodlands, TX
🏆 The Woodlands leads 18 of 23 categories
Gresham
Oregon
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$69,437
Violent Crime Index
108⚠ High
Population
113,525
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.
Gresham, OR
Pros
Rent averages $271/mo less ($1,452 vs $1,723)
Homes cost $45k less ($411,700 vs $456,400)
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 94°F
Cons
Median income trails The Woodlands by $72,947/yr
Cost of living runs 6% higher than The Woodlands
The Woodlands, TX
Pros
Households earn $72,947 more per year on average
43% less violent crime than Gresham
More college-educated — 66.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (235.4 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (5.3%)
Milder winters — January highs near 63°F vs 47°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,723/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $456,400
Key Differences at a Glance
Gresham
Median Home Value
$45k less
$411,700 vs $456,400
The Woodlands
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 100.2 vs 106.6 (100 = US avg)
The Woodlands
Median Income
$72,947
$142,384 vs $69,437/yr
The Woodlands
Violent Crime
43% lower
235.4 vs 410.2 per 100k
The Woodlands
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
5.3% vs 5.8% unemployment
The Woodlands
Summer Heat
12.6°F warmer
July avg high 94.2°F vs 81.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Gresham, OR | The Woodlands, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 106.6⚠ High | 100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $411,700⚠ High ✓ Lower | $456,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,452⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,723⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $69,437 | $142,384 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.5 min ✓ Shorter | 28.2 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 10.2% | 17.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 111⚠ High | 62 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High | 62 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 116⚠ High | 61 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (81) | A (128) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.9:1 | 15.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 23.2% | 66.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.1% | 97.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Gresham-Barlow SD 10J | CONROE ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 46.7°F | 63.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 81.6°F | 94.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.7" ✓ Drier | 54.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.4" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 113,525 | 118,402 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.3 | 40.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.3% | 72.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.4% | 27.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.7% ✓ More | 13.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Gresham's cost of living index is 106.6 vs The Woodlands's 100.2 (US average = 100).
The Woodlands is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, The Woodlands leads 18 of 23 categories. Gresham 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 Gresham to The Woodlands or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($411,700 vs $456,400 median home), income ($69,437 vs $142,384), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Gresham, OR and The Woodlands, TX are about 1,797 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.