Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Huntington Beach, CA
VS
The Woodlands, TX
🏆 The Woodlands leads 16 of 22 categories
Huntington Beach
California
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$114,747
Violent Crime Index
55 ✓ Safer
Population
197,481 ✓ Larger
The Woodlands
Texas
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$142,384 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
62
Population
118,402
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Huntington Beach, CA
Pros
12% less violent crime than The Woodlands
Violent crime is well below the national average (207.3 vs 380/100k)
Cooler summers — July highs near 79°F vs 94°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $976,800
Higher rents — median is $2,318/mo
Median income trails The Woodlands by $27,637/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
The Woodlands, TX
Pros
Homes cost $520k less ($456,400 vs $976,800)
Rent averages $595/mo less ($1,723 vs $2,318)
Households earn $27,637 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (235.4 vs 380/100k)
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Huntington Beach
More college-educated — 66.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Huntington Beach
Violent Crime
12% lower
207.3 vs 235.4 per 100k
The Woodlands
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 100.2 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
The Woodlands
Median Income
$27,637
$142,384 vs $114,747/yr
The Woodlands
Median Home Value
$520k less
$456,400 vs $976,800
The Woodlands
Summer Heat
15.3°F warmer
July avg high 94.2°F vs 78.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Huntington Beach, CA | The Woodlands, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $976,800⚠ High | $456,400⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,318⚠ High | $1,723⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $114,747 | $142,384 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.7 min⚠ High | 28.2 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.6% | 17.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 71 | 62 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 55 ✓ Safer | 62 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 95 | 61 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (97) | A (128) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 24.4:1 | 15.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.7% | 66.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 93.5% | 97.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Huntington Beach City Elementary | CONROE ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.0°F ✓ Warmer | 63.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 78.9°F | 94.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.2" ✓ Drier | 54.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 197,481 ✓ Larger | 118,402 |
| Median Age | 43.3 ✓ Older | 40.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.7% | 72.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 17.9% | 27.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 18.7% ✓ More | 13.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Huntington Beach's cost of living index is 115.5 vs The Woodlands's 100.2 (US average = 100).
The Woodlands is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, The Woodlands leads 16 of 22 categories. Huntington Beach wins 6 and The Woodlands wins 16. 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 Huntington Beach to The Woodlands or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($976,800 vs $456,400 median home), income ($114,747 vs $142,384), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Huntington Beach, CA and The Woodlands, TX are about 1,338 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.