Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Highlands Ranch, CO
VS
The Woodlands, TX
🏆 The Woodlands leads 13 of 23 categories
Highlands Ranch
Colorado
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$148,227 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
36 ✓ Safer
Population
101,514
The Woodlands
Texas
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$142,384
Violent Crime Index
62
Population
118,402 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Highlands Ranch, CO
Pros
41% less violent crime than The Woodlands
Violent crime is well below the national average (138.1 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.9 pts lower (3.4%)
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 94°F
Households earn $5,843 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $637,400
Higher rents — median is $2,353/mo
Snowy winters — about 64" of snow per year
Cost of living runs 5% higher than The Woodlands
The Woodlands, TX
Pros
Homes cost $181k less ($456,400 vs $637,400)
Rent averages $630/mo less ($1,723 vs $2,353)
Violent crime is well below the national average (235.4 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 63°F vs 45°F
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Highlands Ranch
Smaller class sizes — 15.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Higher unemployment (5.3% vs 3.4%)
Longer commutes — 28.2 min average each way
Median income trails Highlands Ranch by $5,843/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Highlands Ranch
Median Income
$5,843
$148,227 vs $142,384/yr
Highlands Ranch
Violent Crime
41% lower
138.1 vs 235.4 per 100k
Highlands Ranch
Unemployment
1.9 pp lower
3.4% vs 5.3% unemployment
The Woodlands
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 100.2 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
The Woodlands
Median Home Value
$181k less
$456,400 vs $637,400
The Woodlands
Summer Heat
6.9°F warmer
July avg high 94.2°F vs 87.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Highlands Ranch, 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 | $637,400⚠ High | $456,400⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,353⚠ High | $1,723⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $148,227 ✓ Higher | $142,384 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.4% ✓ Lower | 5.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.1 min ✓ Shorter | 28.2 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 26.2% ✓ Higher | 17.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 48 ✓ Safer | 62 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 36 ✓ Safer | 62 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 65 | 61 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (114) | A (128) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.4:1 | 15.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 65.7% | 66.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 98.8% ✓ Higher | 97.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Douglas County School District No. Re 1 | CONROE ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.6°F | 63.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.3°F | 94.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 18.2" ✓ Drier | 54.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 64.0" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 101,514 | 118,402 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 41.0 ✓ Older | 40.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 79.4% ✓ Higher | 72.6% |
| Under 18 | 24.9% | 27.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.4% | 13.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Highlands Ranch'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 13 of 23 categories. Highlands Ranch wins 10 and The Woodlands wins 13. 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 Highlands Ranch to The Woodlands or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($637,400 vs $456,400 median home), income ($148,227 vs $142,384), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Highlands Ranch, CO and The Woodlands, TX are about 840 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.