Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Round Rock, TX
VS
The Woodlands, TX
🏆 Round Rock leads 12 of 22 categories
Round Rock
Texas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$91,888
Violent Crime Index
34 ✓ Safer
Population
120,465 ✓ Larger
The Woodlands
Texas
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$142,384 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
62
Population
118,402
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Round Rock, TX
Pros
44% less violent crime than The Woodlands
Homes cost $119k less ($337,500 vs $456,400)
Violent crime is well below the national average (130.7 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (3.8%)
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Rent averages $137/mo less ($1,586 vs $1,723)
Cons
Median income trails The Woodlands by $50,496/yr
The Woodlands, TX
Pros
Households earn $50,496 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
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $456,400
Higher unemployment (5.3% vs 3.8%)
Longer commutes — 28.2 min average each way
Higher rents — median is $1,723/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Round Rock
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 97.6 vs 100.2 (100 = US avg)
Round Rock
Violent Crime
44% lower
130.7 vs 235.4 per 100k
Round Rock
Median Home Value
$119k less
$337,500 vs $456,400
Round Rock
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
3.8% vs 5.3% unemployment
The Woodlands
Median Income
$50,496
$142,384 vs $91,888/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Round Rock, TX | The Woodlands, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.6 ✓ Cheaper | 100.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $337,500⚠ High ✓ Lower | $456,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,586⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,723⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $91,888 | $142,384 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.2 min ✓ Shorter | 28.2 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 19.6% ✓ 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 | 34 ✓ Safer | 62 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 | 61 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) | A (128) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.3% | 66.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 93.2% | 97.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ROUND ROCK ISD | CONROE ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 59.7°F | 63.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 95.7°F ✓ Warmer | 94.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.2" ✓ Drier | 54.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 120,465 ✓ Larger | 118,402 |
| Median Age | 35.9 | 40.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.6% | 72.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 25.0% | 27.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 10.3% | 13.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Round Rock's cost of living index is 97.6 vs The Woodlands's 100.2 (US average = 100).
Round Rock is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Round Rock leads 12 of 22 categories. Round Rock wins 12 and The Woodlands wins 10. 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 Round Rock to The Woodlands or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($337,500 vs $456,400 median home), income ($91,888 vs $142,384), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Round Rock, TX and The Woodlands, TX are about 131 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.