Conroe vs The Woodlands: which is better to live in?
Conroe gets C- overall and The Woodlands gets A+. The Woodlands comes out ahead on our index.
Conroe wins on nothing by a clear margin. The Woodlands wins on cost of living, jobs and income, schools, errands and things to do, getting around, education levels, health, home ownership and internet access.
The Woodlands is the better pick for families, young professionals, retirees, remote workers and people on a budget.
Side by side
| Conroe | The Woodlands | |
|---|---|---|
| Overall grade | C- | A+ |
| Population | 119,564 | 121,002 |
| Growth since 2020 | +33.0% | n/a |
| Median rent | $1,393 | $1,822 |
| Median home value | $309,600 | $511,700 |
| Monthly cost to buy | $2,134 | $3,473 |
| Median household income | $76,206 | $140,701 |
| Property tax per year | $5,268 | $8,062 |
| Violent crime per 100k | 263 | Not available |
| Property crime per 100k | 1,461 | Not available |
| Schools rated A or B | 67% | 100% |
| Average commute | 29 min | 27 min |
| Work from home | 12% | 22% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 34% | 66% |
| Median age | 33.7 years | 40.6 years |
| Days 90°F or hotter | 105 | 111 |
| River flooding risk (FEMA) | Low | High |
Bold marks the better value where one is clearly better.
Grades by category
| Conroe | The Woodlands | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost of living | B- (61) | B (67) |
| Jobs and income | B- (62) | A- (86) |
| Schools | C+ (51) | A+ (99) |
| Safety | C+ (49) | n/a |
| Errands and things to do | F (2) | C (43) |
| Getting around | D- (14) | D (20) |
| Education levels | C- (39) | A+ (96) |
| Health | D (23) | A- (87) |
| Home ownership | C (42) | B+ (74) |
| Internet access | B+ (72) | A+ (96) |
Cost of living
Conroe is the cheaper of the two.
Rent is lower in Conroe: a median of $1,393 a month, 24% lower than The Woodlands's $1,822.
The median home is worth $309,600 in Conroe and $511,700 in The Woodlands. With 20% down at today's rates, that is about $2,134 a month against $3,473, property tax included.
Compared with what locals earn, homes cost 4.1 times income in Conroe and 3.6 times in The Woodlands.
Commute and location
Commutes average 29 minutes in Conroe and 27 in The Woodlands.
The two are about 10 miles apart, so many people weigh them for the same job.
Safety and schools
We don't have a full year of police data for both cities, so we can't compare crime fairly.
For schools, 67% of Conroe's 21 rated campuses earn an A or B, against 100% of The Woodlands's 25.
Common questions
Is Conroe or The Woodlands better to live in?
The Woodlands grades higher overall (C- vs A+). The better choice depends on what you need, so compare the categories above.
Is Conroe cheaper than The Woodlands?
Yes. Conroe has lower typical rent and home prices.
Sources: US Census Bureau 2020-2024 ACS 5-year, FBI Crime Data Explorer, Texas Education Agency 2025, FEMA National Risk Index, NOAA. Updated 2026-10-04.