Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Kansas City, KS
VS
The Woodlands, TX
🏆 The Woodlands leads 17 of 23 categories
Kansas City
Kansas
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$56,120
Violent Crime Index
276⚠ High
Population
155,438 ✓ 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.
Kansas City, KS
Pros
Homes cost $323k less ($133,800 vs $456,400)
Rent averages $679/mo less ($1,044 vs $1,723)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.3)
7% cheaper overall cost of living than The Woodlands
Cons
Median income trails The Woodlands by $86,264/yr
Violent crime (1047.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3606.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.0% vs 5.3%)
The Woodlands, TX
Pros
Households earn $86,264 more per year on average
78% less violent crime than Kansas City
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 0.7 pts lower (5.3%)
Milder winters — January highs near 63°F vs 40°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $456,400
Higher rents — median is $1,723/mo
Longer commutes — 28.2 min average each way
Cost of living runs 7% higher than Kansas City
Key Differences at a Glance
Kansas City
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 93.3 vs 100.2 (100 = US avg)
Kansas City
Median Home Value
$323k less
$133,800 vs $456,400
The Woodlands
Median Income
$86,264
$142,384 vs $56,120/yr
The Woodlands
Violent Crime
78% lower
235.4 vs 1047.2 per 100k
The Woodlands
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
5.3% vs 6.0% unemployment
The Woodlands
Summer Heat
4.0°F warmer
July avg high 94.2°F vs 90.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Kansas City, KS | The Woodlands, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.3 ✓ Cheaper | 100.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $133,800 ✓ Lower | $456,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,044 ✓ Lower | $1,723⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $56,120 | $142,384 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.0%⚠ High | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.7 min ✓ Shorter | 28.2 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.4% | 17.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 234⚠ High | 62 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 276⚠ High | 62 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 172⚠ High | 61 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (81) | A (128) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.4:1 | 15.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.7% | 66.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 80.7% | 97.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Kansas City | CONROE ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.9°F | 63.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.2°F | 94.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.1" ✓ Drier | 54.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 11.0" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 155,438 ✓ Larger | 118,402 |
| Median Age | 34.1 | 40.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.5% | 72.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 27.2% | 27.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.0% | 13.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Kansas City's cost of living index is 93.3 vs The Woodlands's 100.2 (US average = 100).
Kansas City is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, The Woodlands leads 17 of 23 categories. Kansas City 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 Kansas City to The Woodlands or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($133,800 vs $456,400 median home), income ($56,120 vs $142,384), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Kansas City, KS and The Woodlands, TX are about 620 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.