Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Surprise, AZ
VS
The Woodlands, TX
🏆 Surprise leads 12 of 22 categories
Surprise
Arizona
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$87,756
Violent Crime Index
29 ✓ Safer
Population
145,591 ✓ Larger
The Woodlands
Texas
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$142,384 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
62
Population
118,402
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Surprise, AZ
Pros
54% less violent crime than The Woodlands
Homes cost $104k less ($352,600 vs $456,400)
Violent crime is well below the national average (109.1 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (4.6%)
Cons
Median income trails The Woodlands by $54,628/yr
Hot summers — July highs average 105°F
Higher rents — median is $1,822/mo
The Woodlands, TX
Pros
Households earn $54,628 more per year on average
More college-educated — 66.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (235.4 vs 380/100k)
Cooler summers — July highs near 94°F vs 105°F
Rent averages $99/mo less ($1,723 vs $1,822)
Smaller class sizes — 15.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $456,400
Higher unemployment (5.3% vs 4.6%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Surprise
Violent Crime
54% lower
109.1 vs 235.4 per 100k
Surprise
Median Home Value
$104k less
$352,600 vs $456,400
Surprise
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
4.6% vs 5.3% unemployment
Surprise
Summer Heat
10.4°F warmer
July avg high 104.6°F vs 94.2°F
The Woodlands
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 100.2 vs 101.2 (100 = US avg)
The Woodlands
Median Income
$54,628
$142,384 vs $87,756/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Surprise, AZ | The Woodlands, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 101.2⚠ High | 100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $352,600⚠ High ✓ Lower | $456,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,822⚠ High | $1,723⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $87,756 | $142,384 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.5 min⚠ High | 28.2 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 14.8% | 17.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 34 ✓ Safer | 62 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 29 ✓ Safer | 62 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 42 ✓ Safer | 61 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) | A (128) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.0:1 | 15.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.0% | 66.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 93.7% | 97.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Dysart Unified District (4243) | CONROE ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.2°F ✓ Warmer | 63.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 104.6°F ✓ Warmer | 94.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 9.9" ✓ Drier | 54.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 145,591 ✓ Larger | 118,402 |
| Median Age | 41.5 ✓ Older | 40.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 78.4% ✓ Higher | 72.6% |
| Under 18 | 24.5% | 27.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 22.6% ✓ More | 13.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Surprise's cost of living index is 101.2 vs The Woodlands's 100.2 (US average = 100).
The Woodlands is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Surprise leads 12 of 22 categories. Surprise wins 12 and The Woodlands wins 10. 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 Surprise to The Woodlands or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($352,600 vs $456,400 median home), income ($87,756 vs $142,384), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Surprise, AZ and The Woodlands, TX are about 1,021 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.