Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Minneapolis, MN
VS
The Woodlands, TX
🏆 The Woodlands leads 16 of 23 categories
Minneapolis
Minnesota
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$76,332
Violent Crime Index
305⚠ High
Population
426,877 ✓ Larger
The Woodlands
Texas
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
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.
Minneapolis, MN
Pros
Homes cost $128k less ($328,700 vs $456,400)
Rent averages $456/mo less ($1,267 vs $1,723)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 94°F
Smaller class sizes — 11.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails The Woodlands by $66,052/yr
Violent crime (1160.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (5142.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 40" of snow per year
The Woodlands, TX
Pros
Households earn $66,052 more per year on average
80% less violent crime than Minneapolis
Violent crime is well below the national average (235.4 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 63°F vs 22°F
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (5.3%)
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
Longer commutes — 28.2 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Minneapolis
Median Home Value
$128k less
$328,700 vs $456,400
The Woodlands
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 100.2 vs 104.5 (100 = US avg)
The Woodlands
Median Income
$66,052
$142,384 vs $76,332/yr
The Woodlands
Violent Crime
80% lower
235.4 vs 1160.2 per 100k
The Woodlands
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
5.3% vs 5.8% unemployment
The Woodlands
Summer Heat
11.1°F warmer
July avg high 94.2°F vs 83.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Minneapolis, MN | The Woodlands, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.5⚠ High | 100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $328,700⚠ High ✓ Lower | $456,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,267 ✓ Lower | $1,723⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $76,332 | $142,384 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.9 min ✓ Shorter | 28.2 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 19.6% ✓ Higher | 17.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 281⚠ High | 62 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 305⚠ High | 62 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 245⚠ High | 61 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (117) | A (128) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 53.5% | 66.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.8% | 97.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Minneapolis Public School District | CONROE ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 21.7°F | 63.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.1°F | 94.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 33.3" ✓ Drier | 54.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 40.4" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 426,877 ✓ Larger | 118,402 |
| Median Age | 32.8 | 40.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.1% | 72.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.1% | 27.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 10.7% | 13.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Minneapolis's cost of living index is 104.5 vs The Woodlands's 100.2 (US average = 100).
The Woodlands is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, The Woodlands leads 16 of 23 categories. Minneapolis wins 7 and The Woodlands wins 16. 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 Minneapolis to The Woodlands or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($328,700 vs $456,400 median home), income ($76,332 vs $142,384), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Minneapolis, MN and The Woodlands, TX are about 1,029 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.