Head-to-Head · City Comparison
The Woodlands, TX
VS
Tracy, CA
🏆 The Woodlands leads 21 of 22 categories
The Woodlands
Texas
21
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$142,384 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
62 ✓ Safer
Population
118,402 ✓ Larger
Tracy
California
1
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$111,717
Violent Crime Index
79
Population
94,027
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
The Woodlands, TX
Pros
Homes cost $161k less ($456,400 vs $617,300)
More college-educated — 66.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
22% less violent crime than Tracy
Households earn $30,667 more per year on average
Commutes run 15 min shorter each way
Rent averages $439/mo less ($1,723 vs $2,162)
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Tracy, CA
Pros
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $617,300
Median income trails The Woodlands by $30,667/yr
Higher rents — median is $2,162/mo
Longer commutes — 43.5 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
The Woodlands
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 100.2 vs 107.4 (100 = US avg)
The Woodlands
Median Income
$30,667
$142,384 vs $111,717/yr
The Woodlands
Violent Crime
22% lower
235.4 vs 301.4 per 100k
The Woodlands
Median Home Value
$161k less
$456,400 vs $617,300
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | The Woodlands, TX | Tracy, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 107.4⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $456,400⚠ High ✓ Lower | $617,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,723⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,162⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $142,384 ✓ Higher | $111,717 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.2 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 43.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 17.6% ✓ Higher | 11.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 62 ✓ Safer | 78 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 62 ✓ Safer | 79 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 61 ✓ Safer | 76 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (128) ✓ Better | C- (71) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 66.3% ✓ Higher | 24.4% |
| High School or Higher | 97.3% ✓ Higher | 83.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | CONROE ISD | Jefferson Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 63.2°F ✓ Warmer | 57.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.2°F ✓ Warmer | 93.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 54.4" | 12.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 118,402 ✓ Larger | 94,027 |
| Median Age | 40.7 ✓ Older | 34.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 72.6% ✓ Higher | 64.0% |
| Under 18 | 27.7% ✓ More | 26.6% |
| Over 65 | 13.7% ✓ More | 9.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
The Woodlands's cost of living index is 100.2 vs Tracy's 107.4 (US average = 100).
The Woodlands is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, The Woodlands leads 21 of 22 categories. The Woodlands wins 21 and Tracy wins 1. 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 The Woodlands to Tracy or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($456,400 vs $617,300 median home), income ($142,384 vs $111,717), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
The Woodlands, TX and Tracy, CA are about 1,570 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.