Head-to-Head · City Comparison
The Woodlands, TX
VS
Tuscaloosa, AL
🏆 The Woodlands leads 18 of 22 categories
The Woodlands
Texas
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$142,384 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
62 ✓ Safer
Population
118,402 ✓ Larger
Tuscaloosa
Alabama
4
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$47,257
Violent Crime Index
146⚠ High
Population
105,797
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
The Woodlands, TX
Pros
Households earn $95,127 more per year on average
57% less violent crime than Tuscaloosa
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 1.5 pts lower (5.3%)
Milder winters — January highs near 63°F vs 56°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $456,400
Higher rents — median is $1,723/mo
Cost of living runs 10% higher than Tuscaloosa
Longer commutes — 28.2 min average each way
Tuscaloosa, AL
Pros
Homes cost $228k less ($228,300 vs $456,400)
Rent averages $743/mo less ($980 vs $1,723)
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
10% cheaper overall cost of living than The Woodlands
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.0)
Cons
Median income trails The Woodlands by $95,127/yr
Violent crime (553.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2731.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.8% vs 5.3%)
Key Differences at a Glance
The Woodlands
Median Income
$95,127
$142,384 vs $47,257/yr
The Woodlands
Violent Crime
57% lower
235.4 vs 553.4 per 100k
The Woodlands
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
5.3% vs 6.8% unemployment
Tuscaloosa
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 90.0 vs 100.2 (100 = US avg)
Tuscaloosa
Median Home Value
$228k less
$228,300 vs $456,400
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | The Woodlands, TX | Tuscaloosa, AL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.2⚠ High | 90.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $456,400⚠ High | $228,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,723⚠ High | $980 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $142,384 ✓ Higher | $47,257 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.2 min⚠ High | 18.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 17.6% ✓ Higher | 5.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 62 ✓ Safer | 139⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 62 ✓ Safer | 146⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 61 ✓ Safer | 130⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (128) ✓ Better | B (102) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 66.3% ✓ Higher | 38.1% |
| High School or Higher | 97.3% ✓ Higher | 91.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | CONROE ISD | Tuscaloosa City |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 63.2°F ✓ Warmer | 56.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.2°F ✓ Warmer | 92.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 54.4" ✓ Drier | 58.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 118,402 ✓ Larger | 105,797 |
| Median Age | 40.7 ✓ Older | 28.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 72.6% ✓ Higher | 45.7% |
| Under 18 | 27.7% ✓ More | 17.5% |
| Over 65 | 13.7% ✓ More | 13.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
The Woodlands's cost of living index is 100.2 vs Tuscaloosa's 90.0 (US average = 100).
Tuscaloosa is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, The Woodlands leads 18 of 22 categories. The Woodlands wins 18 and Tuscaloosa wins 4. 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 Tuscaloosa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($456,400 vs $228,300 median home), income ($142,384 vs $47,257), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
The Woodlands, TX and Tuscaloosa, AL are about 514 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.