Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Pasadena, TX
VS
The Woodlands, TX
🏆 The Woodlands leads 14 of 21 categories
Pasadena
Texas
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,698
Violent Crime Index
149⚠ High
Population
150,620 ✓ Larger
The Woodlands
Texas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High
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.
Pasadena, TX
Pros
Homes cost $285k less ($171,600 vs $456,400)
Rent averages $564/mo less ($1,159 vs $1,723)
Smaller class sizes — 13.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails The Woodlands by $77,686/yr
Violent crime (566.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (8.9% vs 5.3%)
The Woodlands, TX
Pros
Households earn $77,686 more per year on average
58% less violent crime than Pasadena
More college-educated — 66.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.6 pts lower (5.3%)
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
Key Differences at a Glance
Pasadena
Median Home Value
$285k less
$171,600 vs $456,400
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 100.2 on the COL index
The Woodlands
Median Income
$77,686
$142,384 vs $64,698/yr
The Woodlands
Violent Crime
58% lower
235.4 vs 566.1 per 100k
The Woodlands
Unemployment
3.6 pp lower
5.3% vs 8.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Pasadena, TX | The Woodlands, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.2⚠ High | 100.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $171,600 ✓ Lower | $456,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,159 ✓ Lower | $1,723⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,698 | $142,384 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.9%⚠ High | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.7 min ✓ Shorter | 28.2 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 8.7% | 17.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 134⚠ High | 62 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 149⚠ High | 62 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 112⚠ High | 61 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (87) | A (128) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 15.9% | 66.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 73.0% | 97.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | PASADENA ISD | CONROE ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 63.8°F ✓ Warmer | 63.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.9°F | 94.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 57.1" | 54.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 150,620 ✓ Larger | 118,402 |
| Median Age | 32.6 | 40.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.8% | 72.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 28.5% ✓ More | 27.7% |
| Over 65 | 11.2% | 13.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Pasadena's cost of living index is 100.2 vs The Woodlands's 100.2 (US average = 100).
Both have a similar overall cost of living.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, The Woodlands leads 14 of 21 categories. Pasadena wins 7 and The Woodlands wins 14. 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 Pasadena to The Woodlands or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($171,600 vs $456,400 median home), income ($64,698 vs $142,384), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Pasadena, TX and The Woodlands, TX are about 42 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.