Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Portland, OR
VS
The Woodlands, TX
🏆 The Woodlands leads 17 of 23 categories
Portland
Oregon
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$85,876
Violent Crime Index
190⚠ High
Population
646,101 ✓ Larger
The Woodlands
Texas
17
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.
Portland, OR
Pros
Rent averages $193/mo less ($1,530 vs $1,723)
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 80°F vs 94°F
Cons
Median income trails The Woodlands by $56,508/yr
Violent crime (720.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $523,100
Property crime (5526.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
The Woodlands, TX
Pros
Households earn $56,508 more per year on average
67% less violent crime than Portland
Violent crime is well below the national average (235.4 vs 380/100k)
Homes cost $67k less ($456,400 vs $523,100)
More college-educated — 66.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 63°F vs 47°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,723/mo
Longer commutes — 28.2 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
The Woodlands
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 100.2 vs 106.6 (100 = US avg)
The Woodlands
Median Income
$56,508
$142,384 vs $85,876/yr
The Woodlands
Violent Crime
67% lower
235.4 vs 720.1 per 100k
The Woodlands
Median Home Value
$67k less
$456,400 vs $523,100
The Woodlands
Summer Heat
13.9°F warmer
July avg high 94.2°F vs 80.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Portland, OR | The Woodlands, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 106.6⚠ High | 100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $523,100⚠ High | $456,400⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,530⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,723⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $85,876 | $142,384 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.8 min ✓ Shorter | 28.2 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 22.0% ✓ Higher | 17.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 219⚠ High | 62 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 190⚠ High | 62 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 263⚠ High | 61 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (112) | A (128) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.0:1 | 15.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 52.5% | 66.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 93.4% | 97.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Portland SD 1J | CONROE ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 46.9°F | 63.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 80.3°F | 94.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.9" ✓ Drier | 54.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.6" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 646,101 ✓ Larger | 118,402 |
| Median Age | 38.3 | 40.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.3% | 72.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.8% | 27.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.0% ✓ More | 13.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Portland's cost of living index is 106.6 vs The Woodlands's 100.2 (US average = 100).
The Woodlands is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, The Woodlands leads 17 of 23 categories. Portland wins 6 and The Woodlands wins 17. 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 Portland to The Woodlands or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($523,100 vs $456,400 median home), income ($85,876 vs $142,384), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Portland, OR and The Woodlands, TX are about 1,807 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.