Head-to-Head · City Comparison
New Braunfels, TX
VS
The Woodlands, TX
🏆 The Woodlands leads 11 of 21 categories
New Braunfels
Texas
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$85,827
Violent Crime Index
41 ✓ Safer
Population
92,993
The Woodlands
Texas
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$142,384 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
62
Population
118,402 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
New Braunfels, TX
Pros
Homes cost $166k less ($290,800 vs $456,400)
34% less violent crime than The Woodlands
Violent crime is well below the national average (156.4 vs 380/100k)
Rent averages $297/mo less ($1,426 vs $1,723)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (3.8%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.7)
Cons
Median income trails The Woodlands by $56,557/yr
The Woodlands, TX
Pros
Households earn $56,557 more per year on average
More college-educated — 66.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
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
Higher unemployment (5.3% vs 3.8%)
Cost of living runs 7% higher than New Braunfels
Key Differences at a Glance
New Braunfels
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 93.7 vs 100.2 (100 = US avg)
New Braunfels
Violent Crime
34% lower
156.4 vs 235.4 per 100k
New Braunfels
Median Home Value
$166k less
$290,800 vs $456,400
New Braunfels
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
3.8% vs 5.3% unemployment
The Woodlands
Median Income
$56,557
$142,384 vs $85,827/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | New Braunfels, TX | The Woodlands, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.7 ✓ Cheaper | 100.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $290,800 ✓ Lower | $456,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,426⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,723⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $85,827 | $142,384 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.5 min ✓ Shorter | 28.2 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 11.4% | 17.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 49 ✓ Safer | 62 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 41 ✓ Safer | 62 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 61 | 61 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (106) | A (128) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.3:1 | 15.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 38.0% | 66.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 91.7% | 97.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | COMAL ISD | CONROE ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 61.7°F | 63.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 93.4°F | 94.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 35.4" ✓ Drier | 54.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 92,993 | 118,402 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.1 | 40.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 63.8% | 72.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.0% | 27.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.9% ✓ More | 13.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
New Braunfels's cost of living index is 93.7 vs The Woodlands's 100.2 (US average = 100).
New Braunfels is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, The Woodlands leads 11 of 21 categories. New Braunfels wins 10 and The Woodlands wins 11. 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 New Braunfels to The Woodlands or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($290,800 vs $456,400 median home), income ($85,827 vs $142,384), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
New Braunfels, TX and The Woodlands, TX are about 159 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.