Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Richardson, TX
VS
The Woodlands, TX
🏆 The Woodlands leads 13 of 23 categories
Richardson
Texas
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$94,362
Violent Crime Index
39 ✓ Safer
Population
118,063
The Woodlands
Texas
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$142,384 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
62
Population
118,402 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Richardson, TX
Pros
38% less violent crime than The Woodlands
Violent crime is well below the national average (146.7 vs 380/100k)
Homes cost $77k less ($379,800 vs $456,400)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails The Woodlands by $48,022/yr
Cost of living runs 3% higher than The Woodlands
The Woodlands, TX
Pros
Households earn $48,022 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (235.4 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 66.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 63°F vs 56°F
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Richardson
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $456,400
Longer commutes — 28.2 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Richardson
Violent Crime
38% lower
146.7 vs 235.4 per 100k
Richardson
Median Home Value
$77k less
$379,800 vs $456,400
The Woodlands
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 100.2 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
The Woodlands
Median Income
$48,022
$142,384 vs $94,362/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Richardson, TX | The Woodlands, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High | 100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $379,800⚠ High ✓ Lower | $456,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,725⚠ High | $1,723⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $94,362 | $142,384 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.7 min ✓ Shorter | 28.2 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 19.7% ✓ Higher | 17.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 58 ✓ Safer | 62 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 39 ✓ Safer | 62 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 87 | 61 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A+ (133) ✓ Better | A (128) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 55.5% | 66.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 92.5% | 97.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | RICHARDSON ISD | CONROE ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.9°F | 63.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer | 94.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.1" ✓ Drier | 54.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.7" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 118,063 | 118,402 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.5 | 40.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.6% | 72.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.0% | 27.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.6% | 13.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Richardson's cost of living index is 103.3 vs The Woodlands's 100.2 (US average = 100).
The Woodlands is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, The Woodlands leads 13 of 23 categories. Richardson wins 10 and The Woodlands wins 13. 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 Richardson to The Woodlands or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($379,800 vs $456,400 median home), income ($94,362 vs $142,384), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Richardson, TX and The Woodlands, TX are about 206 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.