Head-to-Head · City Comparison
San Jose, CA
VS
The Woodlands, TX
🏆 The Woodlands leads 18 of 21 categories
San Jose
California
3
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$136,010
Violent Crime Index
160⚠ High
Population
1,001,176 ✓ Larger
The Woodlands
Texas
18
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.
San Jose, CA
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (4.7%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 94°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,149,600
Higher rents — median is $2,526/mo
Violent crime (606.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.9)
The Woodlands, TX
Pros
Homes cost $693k less ($456,400 vs $1,149,600)
61% less violent crime than San Jose
Rent averages $803/mo less ($1,723 vs $2,526)
Violent crime is well below the national average (235.4 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 66.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
13% cheaper overall cost of living than San Jose
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
San Jose
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
4.7% vs 5.3% unemployment
The Woodlands
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 100.2 vs 112.9 (100 = US avg)
The Woodlands
Median Income
$6,374
$142,384 vs $136,010/yr
The Woodlands
Violent Crime
61% lower
235.4 vs 606.8 per 100k
The Woodlands
Median Home Value
$693k less
$456,400 vs $1,149,600
The Woodlands
Summer Heat
12.0°F warmer
July avg high 94.2°F vs 82.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | San Jose, CA | The Woodlands, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 112.9⚠ High | 100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $1,149,600⚠ High | $456,400⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,526⚠ High | $1,723⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $136,010 | $142,384 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.8 min⚠ High | 28.2 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.3% | 17.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 145⚠ High | 62 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 160⚠ High | 62 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 123⚠ High | 61 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) | A (128) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.8:1 | 15.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.0% | 66.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 85.5% | 97.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | San Jose Unified | CONROE ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 59.0°F | 63.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.2°F | 94.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 18.8" ✓ Drier | 54.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 1,001,176 ✓ Larger | 118,402 |
| Median Age | 37.8 | 40.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.8% | 72.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.2% | 27.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.7% | 13.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
San Jose's cost of living index is 112.9 vs The Woodlands's 100.2 (US average = 100).
The Woodlands is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, The Woodlands leads 18 of 21 categories. San Jose wins 3 and The Woodlands wins 18. 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 San Jose to The Woodlands or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($1,149,600 vs $456,400 median home), income ($136,010 vs $142,384), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
San Jose, CA and The Woodlands, TX are about 1,583 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.