Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Orlando, FL
VS
The Woodlands, TX
🏆 The Woodlands leads 15 of 22 categories
Orlando
Florida
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.1⚠ High
Median Household Income
$66,292
Violent Crime Index
220⚠ High
Population
307,738 ✓ Larger
The Woodlands
Texas
15
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.
Orlando, FL
Pros
Homes cost $124k less ($332,700 vs $456,400)
Rent averages $214/mo less ($1,509 vs $1,723)
Milder winters — January highs near 72°F vs 63°F
Cons
Median income trails The Woodlands by $76,092/yr
Violent crime (835.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4028.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
The Woodlands, TX
Pros
Households earn $76,092 more per year on average
72% less violent crime than Orlando
Violent crime is well below the national average (235.4 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 66.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 15.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $456,400
Higher rents — median is $1,723/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Orlando
Median Home Value
$124k less
$332,700 vs $456,400
The Woodlands
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 100.2 vs 101.1 (100 = US avg)
The Woodlands
Median Income
$76,092
$142,384 vs $66,292/yr
The Woodlands
Violent Crime
72% lower
235.4 vs 835.8 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Orlando, FL | The Woodlands, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 101.1⚠ High | 100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $332,700⚠ High ✓ Lower | $456,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,509⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,723⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $66,292 | $142,384 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.9 min ✓ Shorter | 28.2 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 12.1% | 17.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 209⚠ High | 62 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 220⚠ High | 62 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 192⚠ High | 61 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) | A (128) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.0:1 | 15.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 41.7% | 66.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 91.4% | 97.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ORANGE | CONROE ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 71.8°F ✓ Warmer | 63.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.0°F | 94.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.4" ✓ Drier | 54.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 307,738 ✓ Larger | 118,402 |
| Median Age | 34.7 | 40.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.2% | 72.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.8% | 27.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 10.8% | 13.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Orlando's cost of living index is 101.1 vs The Woodlands's 100.2 (US average = 100).
The Woodlands is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, The Woodlands leads 15 of 22 categories. Orlando wins 7 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 Orlando to The Woodlands or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($332,700 vs $456,400 median home), income ($66,292 vs $142,384), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Orlando, FL and The Woodlands, TX are about 867 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.