Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Macon-Bibb County, GA
VS
The Woodlands, TX
🏆 The Woodlands leads 14 of 22 categories
Macon-Bibb County
Georgia
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$48,897
Violent Crime Index
394⚠ High
Population
156,554 ✓ 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.
Macon-Bibb County, GA
Pros
Homes cost $301k less ($155,200 vs $456,400)
Rent averages $756/mo less ($967 vs $1,723)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
10% cheaper overall cost of living than The Woodlands
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.0)
Smaller class sizes — 13.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails The Woodlands by $93,487/yr
Violent crime (1497.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3808.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.5% vs 5.3%)
The Woodlands, TX
Pros
Households earn $93,487 more per year on average
84% less violent crime than Macon-Bibb County
More college-educated — 66.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.2 pts lower (5.3%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (235.4 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $456,400
Higher rents — median is $1,723/mo
Cost of living runs 10% higher than Macon-Bibb County
Longer commutes — 28.2 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Macon-Bibb County
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 90.0 vs 100.2 (100 = US avg)
Macon-Bibb County
Median Home Value
$301k less
$155,200 vs $456,400
The Woodlands
Median Income
$93,487
$142,384 vs $48,897/yr
The Woodlands
Violent Crime
84% lower
235.4 vs 1497.8 per 100k
The Woodlands
Unemployment
2.2 pp lower
5.3% vs 7.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Macon-Bibb County, GA | The Woodlands, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.0 ✓ Cheaper | 100.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $155,200 ✓ Lower | $456,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $967 ✓ Lower | $1,723⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $48,897 | $142,384 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.5%⚠ High | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.7 min ✓ Shorter | 28.2 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.6% | 17.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 309⚠ High | 62 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 394⚠ High | 62 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 181⚠ High | 61 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | A (128) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 25.9% | 66.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.5% | 97.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bibb County | CONROE ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 59.3°F | 63.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 93.5°F | 94.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.3" ✓ Drier | 54.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 156,554 ✓ Larger | 118,402 |
| Median Age | 36.5 | 40.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.6% | 72.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.2% | 27.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.2% ✓ More | 13.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Macon-Bibb County's cost of living index is 90.0 vs The Woodlands's 100.2 (US average = 100).
Macon-Bibb County is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, The Woodlands leads 14 of 22 categories. Macon-Bibb County wins 8 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 Macon-Bibb County to The Woodlands or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($155,200 vs $456,400 median home), income ($48,897 vs $142,384), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Macon-Bibb County, GA and The Woodlands, TX are about 719 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.
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