Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Madison, WI
VS
The Woodlands, TX
🏆 The Woodlands leads 15 of 23 categories
Madison
Wisconsin
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$74,895
Violent Crime Index
67
Population
268,516 ✓ Larger
The Woodlands
Texas
15
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.
Madison, WI
Pros
Homes cost $130k less ($326,600 vs $456,400)
Rent averages $432/mo less ($1,291 vs $1,723)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.7 pts lower (2.6%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (256.0 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 94°F
Cons
Median income trails The Woodlands by $67,489/yr
The Woodlands, TX
Pros
Households earn $67,489 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (235.4 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 63°F vs 28°F
More college-educated — 66.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $456,400
Higher rents — median is $1,723/mo
Higher unemployment (5.3% vs 2.6%)
Longer commutes — 28.2 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Madison
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 95.8 vs 100.2 (100 = US avg)
Madison
Median Home Value
$130k less
$326,600 vs $456,400
Madison
Unemployment
2.7 pp lower
2.6% vs 5.3% unemployment
The Woodlands
Median Income
$67,489
$142,384 vs $74,895/yr
The Woodlands
Violent Crime
8% lower
235.4 vs 256.0 per 100k
The Woodlands
Summer Heat
12.0°F warmer
July avg high 94.2°F vs 82.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Madison, WI | The Woodlands, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 95.8 ✓ Cheaper | 100.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $326,600⚠ High ✓ Lower | $456,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,291 ✓ Lower | $1,723⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $74,895 | $142,384 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.6% ✓ Lower | 5.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.5 min ✓ Shorter | 28.2 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 15.3% | 17.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 76 | 62 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 67 | 62 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 89 | 61 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (124) | A (128) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 58.9% | 66.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 95.5% | 97.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Madison Metropolitan School District | CONROE ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 27.7°F | 63.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.2°F | 94.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 39.5" ✓ Drier | 54.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 38.5" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 268,516 ✓ Larger | 118,402 |
| Median Age | 31.6 | 40.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.0% | 72.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.2% | 27.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.8% | 13.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Madison's cost of living index is 95.8 vs The Woodlands's 100.2 (US average = 100).
Madison is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, The Woodlands leads 15 of 23 categories. Madison wins 8 and The Woodlands wins 15. 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 Madison to The Woodlands or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($326,600 vs $456,400 median home), income ($74,895 vs $142,384), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Madison, WI and The Woodlands, TX are about 953 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.