Head-to-Head · City Comparison
San Marcos, CA
VS
The Woodlands, TX
🏆 The Woodlands leads 15 of 22 categories
San Marcos
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$99,413
Violent Crime Index
59 ✓ Safer
Population
94,360
The Woodlands
Texas
15
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.
San Marcos, CA
Pros
Violent crime is well below the national average (222.4 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (4.2%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 94°F
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 63°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $728,800
Median income trails The Woodlands by $42,971/yr
Higher rents — median is $2,064/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.5)
The Woodlands, TX
Pros
Homes cost $272k less ($456,400 vs $728,800)
Households earn $42,971 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
Rent averages $341/mo less ($1,723 vs $2,064)
11% cheaper overall cost of living than San Marcos
Cons
Higher unemployment (5.3% vs 4.2%)
Key Differences at a Glance
San Marcos
Violent Crime
6% lower
222.4 vs 235.4 per 100k
San Marcos
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
4.2% vs 5.3% unemployment
The Woodlands
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 100.2 vs 111.5 (100 = US avg)
The Woodlands
Median Income
$42,971
$142,384 vs $99,413/yr
The Woodlands
Median Home Value
$272k less
$456,400 vs $728,800
The Woodlands
Summer Heat
7.0°F warmer
July avg high 94.2°F vs 87.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | San Marcos, CA | The Woodlands, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.5⚠ High | 100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $728,800⚠ High | $456,400⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,064⚠ High | $1,723⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $99,413 | $142,384 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.7 min ✓ Shorter | 28.2 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 16.2% | 17.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 48 ✓ Safer | 62 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 59 ✓ Safer | 62 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 31 ✓ Safer | 61 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) | A (128) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.5:1 | 15.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 41.5% | 66.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.8% | 97.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | San Marcos Unified | CONROE ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 68.8°F ✓ Warmer | 63.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 87.2°F | 94.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 13.9" ✓ Drier | 54.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 94,360 | 118,402 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.9 | 40.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 61.9% | 72.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 25.8% | 27.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.0% | 13.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
San Marcos's cost of living index is 111.5 vs The Woodlands's 100.2 (US average = 100).
The Woodlands is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, The Woodlands leads 15 of 22 categories. San Marcos 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 San Marcos to The Woodlands or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($728,800 vs $456,400 median home), income ($99,413 vs $142,384), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
San Marcos, CA and The Woodlands, TX are about 1,288 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.