Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Little Rock, AR
VS
The Woodlands, TX
🏆 The Woodlands leads 14 of 23 categories
Little Rock
Arkansas
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,697
Violent Crime Index
440⚠ High
Population
202,218 ✓ Larger
The Woodlands
Texas
14
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.
Little Rock, AR
Pros
Homes cost $251k less ($205,800 vs $456,400)
Rent averages $717/mo less ($1,006 vs $1,723)
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (4.4%)
11% cheaper overall cost of living than The Woodlands
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.1)
Cons
Median income trails The Woodlands by $83,687/yr
Violent crime (1672.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (5214.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
The Woodlands, TX
Pros
Households earn $83,687 more per year on average
86% less violent crime than Little Rock
Violent crime is well below the national average (235.4 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 66.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 63°F vs 51°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $456,400
Higher rents — median is $1,723/mo
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Little Rock
Higher unemployment (5.3% vs 4.4%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Little Rock
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 89.1 vs 100.2 (100 = US avg)
Little Rock
Median Home Value
$251k less
$205,800 vs $456,400
Little Rock
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
4.4% vs 5.3% unemployment
The Woodlands
Median Income
$83,687
$142,384 vs $58,697/yr
The Woodlands
Violent Crime
86% lower
235.4 vs 1672.0 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Little Rock, AR | The Woodlands, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.1 ✓ Cheaper | 100.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $205,800 ✓ Lower | $456,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,006 ✓ Lower | $1,723⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,697 | $142,384 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.3 min ✓ Shorter | 28.2 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 8.8% | 17.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 363⚠ High | 62 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 440⚠ High | 62 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 248⚠ High | 61 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) | A (128) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 44.1% | 66.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 92.4% | 97.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | LITTLE ROCK SCHOOL DISTRICT | CONROE ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.5°F | 63.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 91.7°F | 94.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 52.4" ✓ Drier | 54.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.8" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 202,218 ✓ Larger | 118,402 |
| Median Age | 36.6 | 40.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.4% | 72.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.5% | 27.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.0% ✓ More | 13.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Little Rock's cost of living index is 89.1 vs The Woodlands's 100.2 (US average = 100).
Little Rock is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, The Woodlands leads 14 of 23 categories. Little Rock wins 9 and The Woodlands wins 14. 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 Little Rock to The Woodlands or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($205,800 vs $456,400 median home), income ($58,697 vs $142,384), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Little Rock, AR and The Woodlands, TX are about 364 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.