Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Newark, NJ
VS
The Woodlands, TX
🏆 The Woodlands leads 19 of 23 categories
Newark
New Jersey
4
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$46,460
Violent Crime Index
153⚠ High
Population
307,355 ✓ Larger
The Woodlands
Texas
19
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.
Newark, NJ
Pros
Homes cost $144k less ($312,300 vs $456,400)
Rent averages $450/mo less ($1,273 vs $1,723)
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 94°F
Cons
Median income trails The Woodlands by $95,924/yr
Violent crime (581.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Cost of living runs 12% higher than The Woodlands
The Woodlands, TX
Pros
Households earn $95,924 more per year on average
59% less violent crime than Newark
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.4 pts lower (5.3%)
More college-educated — 66.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (235.4 vs 380/100k)
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Newark
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $456,400
Higher rents — median is $1,723/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Newark
Median Home Value
$144k less
$312,300 vs $456,400
The Woodlands
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 100.2 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
The Woodlands
Median Income
$95,924
$142,384 vs $46,460/yr
The Woodlands
Violent Crime
59% lower
235.4 vs 581.2 per 100k
The Woodlands
Unemployment
5.4 pp lower
5.3% vs 10.7% unemployment
The Woodlands
Summer Heat
7.4°F warmer
July avg high 94.2°F vs 86.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Newark, NJ | The Woodlands, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 112.5⚠ High | 100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $312,300⚠ High ✓ Lower | $456,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,273 ✓ Lower | $1,723⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $46,460 | $142,384 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 10.7%⚠ High | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.0 min⚠ High | 28.2 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 4.6% | 17.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 129⚠ High | 62 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 153⚠ High | 62 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 93 | 61 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (85) | A (128) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.6:1 | 15.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 17.0% | 66.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 77.7% | 97.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Newark Public School District | CONROE ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.4°F | 63.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.8°F | 94.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.4" ✓ Drier | 54.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 28.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 307,355 ✓ Larger | 118,402 |
| Median Age | 34.7 | 40.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 23.9% | 72.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.1% | 27.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 10.9% | 13.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Newark's cost of living index is 112.5 vs The Woodlands's 100.2 (US average = 100).
The Woodlands is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, The Woodlands leads 19 of 23 categories. Newark wins 4 and The Woodlands wins 19. 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 Newark to The Woodlands or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($312,300 vs $456,400 median home), income ($46,460 vs $142,384), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Newark, NJ and The Woodlands, TX are about 1,399 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.