Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Suffolk, VA
VS
The Woodlands, TX
🏆 The Woodlands leads 17 of 23 categories
Suffolk
Virginia
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$87,758
Violent Crime Index
98
Population
94,856
The Woodlands
Texas
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$142,384 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
62 ✓ Safer
Population
118,402 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Suffolk, VA
Pros
Homes cost $142k less ($314,400 vs $456,400)
Rent averages $347/mo less ($1,376 vs $1,723)
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 94°F
3% cheaper overall cost of living than The Woodlands
Cons
Median income trails The Woodlands by $54,626/yr
Higher unemployment (6.3% vs 5.3%)
The Woodlands, TX
Pros
Households earn $54,626 more per year on average
37% less violent crime than Suffolk
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%)
Milder winters — January highs near 63°F vs 49°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $456,400
Higher rents — median is $1,723/mo
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Suffolk
Key Differences at a Glance
Suffolk
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 100.2 (100 = US avg)
Suffolk
Median Home Value
$142k less
$314,400 vs $456,400
The Woodlands
Median Income
$54,626
$142,384 vs $87,758/yr
The Woodlands
Violent Crime
37% lower
235.4 vs 371.0 per 100k
The Woodlands
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
5.3% vs 6.3% unemployment
The Woodlands
Summer Heat
7.4°F warmer
July avg high 94.2°F vs 86.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Suffolk, VA | The Woodlands, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper | 100.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $314,400⚠ High ✓ Lower | $456,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,376⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,723⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $87,758 | $142,384 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.3%⚠ High | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.6 min⚠ High | 28.2 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.9% | 17.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 89 | 62 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 98 | 62 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 75 | 61 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (99) | A (128) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.1% | 66.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 91.2% | 97.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Suffolk City Public Schools | CONROE ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 49.3°F | 63.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.8°F | 94.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.8" ✓ Drier | 54.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 5.8" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 94,856 | 118,402 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.5 | 40.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 70.4% | 72.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.6% | 27.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.8% ✓ More | 13.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Suffolk's cost of living index is 97.4 vs The Woodlands's 100.2 (US average = 100).
Suffolk is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, The Woodlands leads 17 of 23 categories. Suffolk wins 6 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 Suffolk to The Woodlands or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($314,400 vs $456,400 median home), income ($87,758 vs $142,384), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Suffolk, VA and The Woodlands, TX are about 1,175 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.