Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Stockton, CA
VS
The Woodlands, TX
🏆 The Woodlands leads 17 of 22 categories
Stockton
California
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,612
Violent Crime Index
302⚠ High
Population
320,030 ✓ Larger
The Woodlands
Texas
17
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.
Stockton, CA
Pros
Rent averages $306/mo less ($1,417 vs $1,723)
Homes cost $74k less ($382,000 vs $456,400)
Cons
Median income trails The Woodlands by $70,772/yr
Violent crime (1145.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2639.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.7% vs 5.3%)
The Woodlands, TX
Pros
Households earn $70,772 more per year on average
79% less violent crime than Stockton
More college-educated — 66.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.4 pts lower (5.3%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (235.4 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,723/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $456,400
Key Differences at a Glance
Stockton
Median Home Value
$74k less
$382,000 vs $456,400
The Woodlands
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 100.2 vs 107.4 (100 = US avg)
The Woodlands
Median Income
$70,772
$142,384 vs $71,612/yr
The Woodlands
Violent Crime
79% lower
235.4 vs 1145.8 per 100k
The Woodlands
Unemployment
2.4 pp lower
5.3% vs 7.7% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Stockton, CA | The Woodlands, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.4⚠ High | 100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $382,000⚠ High ✓ Lower | $456,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,417⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,723⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,612 | $142,384 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.7%⚠ High | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 32.8 min⚠ High | 28.2 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 5.7% | 17.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 231⚠ High | 62 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 302⚠ High | 62 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High | 61 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (74) | A (128) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.0:1 | 15.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 18.3% | 66.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 77.8% | 97.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Stockton Unified | CONROE ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.2°F | 63.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 94.7°F ✓ Warmer | 94.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.3" ✓ Drier | 54.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 320,030 ✓ Larger | 118,402 |
| Median Age | 33.2 | 40.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.7% | 72.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 27.5% | 27.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.8% | 13.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Stockton's cost of living index is 107.4 vs The Woodlands's 100.2 (US average = 100).
The Woodlands is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, The Woodlands leads 17 of 22 categories. Stockton wins 5 and The Woodlands wins 17. 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 Stockton to The Woodlands or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($382,000 vs $456,400 median home), income ($71,612 vs $142,384), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Stockton, CA and The Woodlands, TX are about 1,566 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.