Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Norwalk, CA
VS
The Woodlands, TX
🏆 The Woodlands leads 20 of 22 categories
Norwalk
California
2
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$91,259
Violent Crime Index
99
Population
101,893
The Woodlands
Texas
20
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$142,384 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
62 ✓ Safer
Population
118,402 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Norwalk, CA
Pros
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 94°F
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 63°F
Cons
Median income trails The Woodlands by $51,125/yr
Pricier housing — median home is $593,100
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Cost of living runs 15% higher than The Woodlands
The Woodlands, TX
Pros
Households earn $51,125 more per year on average
37% less violent crime than Norwalk
More college-educated — 66.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Homes cost $137k less ($456,400 vs $593,100)
Violent crime is well below the national average (235.4 vs 380/100k)
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Norwalk
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
The Woodlands
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 100.2 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
The Woodlands
Median Income
$51,125
$142,384 vs $91,259/yr
The Woodlands
Violent Crime
37% lower
235.4 vs 374.4 per 100k
The Woodlands
Median Home Value
$137k less
$456,400 vs $593,100
The Woodlands
Summer Heat
9.8°F warmer
July avg high 94.2°F vs 84.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Norwalk, CA | The Woodlands, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $593,100⚠ High | $456,400⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,860⚠ High | $1,723⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $91,259 | $142,384 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.5 min⚠ High | 28.2 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 5.9% | 17.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 96 | 62 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 99 | 62 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 93 | 61 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (83) | A (128) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.8:1 | 15.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.0% | 66.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 76.8% | 97.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Norwalk-La Mirada Unified | CONROE ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 68.8°F ✓ Warmer | 63.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 84.4°F | 94.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 15.2" ✓ Drier | 54.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 101,893 | 118,402 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.6 | 40.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 67.6% | 72.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.9% | 27.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.5% | 13.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Norwalk's cost of living index is 115.5 vs The Woodlands's 100.2 (US average = 100).
The Woodlands is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, The Woodlands leads 20 of 22 categories. Norwalk wins 2 and The Woodlands wins 20. 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 Norwalk to The Woodlands or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($593,100 vs $456,400 median home), income ($91,259 vs $142,384), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Norwalk, CA and The Woodlands, TX are about 1,344 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.