Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Jacksonville, FL
VS
The Woodlands, TX
🏆 The Woodlands leads 13 of 22 categories
Jacksonville
Florida
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
99.2 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$64,138
Violent Crime Index
164⚠ High
Population
950,203 ✓ Larger
The Woodlands
Texas
13
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.
Jacksonville, FL
Pros
Homes cost $213k less ($243,000 vs $456,400)
Rent averages $442/mo less ($1,281 vs $1,723)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (4.8%)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails The Woodlands by $78,246/yr
Violent crime (623.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2494.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
The Woodlands, TX
Pros
Households earn $78,246 more per year on average
62% less violent crime than Jacksonville
More college-educated — 66.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (235.4 vs 380/100k)
Smaller class sizes — 15.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $456,400
Higher rents — median is $1,723/mo
Longer commutes — 28.2 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Jacksonville
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 99.2 vs 100.2 (100 = US avg)
Jacksonville
Median Home Value
$213k less
$243,000 vs $456,400
Jacksonville
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
4.8% vs 5.3% unemployment
The Woodlands
Median Income
$78,246
$142,384 vs $64,138/yr
The Woodlands
Violent Crime
62% lower
235.4 vs 623.8 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Jacksonville, FL | The Woodlands, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 99.2 ✓ Cheaper | 100.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $243,000 ✓ Lower | $456,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,281 ✓ Lower | $1,723⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,138 | $142,384 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.4 min ✓ Shorter | 28.2 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 11.1% | 17.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 146⚠ High | 62 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 164⚠ High | 62 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 119⚠ High | 61 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) | A (128) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.1:1 | 15.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.0% | 66.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.5% | 97.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | DUVAL | CONROE ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.5°F ✓ Warmer | 63.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.8°F | 94.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 53.1" ✓ Drier | 54.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 950,203 ✓ Larger | 118,402 |
| Median Age | 36.3 | 40.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.0% | 72.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.6% | 27.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.4% ✓ More | 13.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Jacksonville's cost of living index is 99.2 vs The Woodlands's 100.2 (US average = 100).
Jacksonville is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, The Woodlands leads 13 of 22 categories. Jacksonville wins 9 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 Jacksonville to The Woodlands or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($243,000 vs $456,400 median home), income ($64,138 vs $142,384), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Jacksonville, FL and The Woodlands, TX are about 826 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.