Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Sacramento, CA
VS
The Woodlands, TX
🏆 The Woodlands leads 15 of 22 categories
Sacramento
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$78,954
Violent Crime Index
199⚠ High
Population
523,600 ✓ 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.
Sacramento, CA
Pros
Rent averages $131/mo less ($1,592 vs $1,723)
Cons
Median income trails The Woodlands by $63,430/yr
Violent crime (754.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2547.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.3% vs 5.3%)
The Woodlands, TX
Pros
Households earn $63,430 more per year on average
69% less violent crime than Sacramento
More college-educated — 66.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (235.4 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (5.3%)
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Sacramento
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,723/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
The Woodlands
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 100.2 vs 108.9 (100 = US avg)
The Woodlands
Median Income
$63,430
$142,384 vs $78,954/yr
The Woodlands
Violent Crime
69% lower
235.4 vs 754.9 per 100k
The Woodlands
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
5.3% vs 6.3% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Sacramento, CA | The Woodlands, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.9⚠ High | 100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $450,500⚠ High ✓ Lower | $456,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,592⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,723⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,954 | $142,384 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.3%⚠ High | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.4 min ✓ Shorter | 28.2 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 15.1% | 17.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 168⚠ High | 62 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 199⚠ High | 62 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 121⚠ High | 61 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | A (128) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.0:1 | 15.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 35.8% | 66.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.4% | 97.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Sacramento City Unified | CONROE ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.5°F | 63.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 94.4°F ✓ Warmer | 94.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 20.4" ✓ Drier | 54.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 523,600 ✓ Larger | 118,402 |
| Median Age | 35.2 | 40.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 50.7% | 72.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.0% | 27.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.8% ✓ More | 13.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Sacramento's cost of living index is 108.9 vs The Woodlands's 100.2 (US average = 100).
The Woodlands is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, The Woodlands leads 15 of 22 categories. Sacramento 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 Sacramento to The Woodlands or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($450,500 vs $456,400 median home), income ($78,954 vs $142,384), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Sacramento, CA and The Woodlands, TX are about 1,583 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.