The Woodlands, TX Relocation Guide (2026)
Cost of living, housing, and income data for The Woodlands, sourced from the US Census Bureau.
Salary needed to live in The Woodlands →
Source: US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022). Last updated July 2026.
Roughly 118,402 people call The Woodlands, Texas home. Household income runs $142,384 at the median, above what we see across the broader set of cities (+98%).
Housing costs are a defining factor for anyone relocating to The Woodlands. The median home value sits at $456,400 (above the multi-city median at +40%), while renters pay a median of $1,723 per month. Buyers should weigh current mortgage rates and local property taxes against these figures before committing.
Home prices in The Woodlands run about 3.2× the typical household income — among the more affordable ratios we track, and a favorable starting point for buyers. Year-over-year, home values around The Woodlands are up 2.22%, a pace in line with a healthy, unremarkable market. Climate and natural-hazard risk in The Woodlands runs on the higher side, per FEMA's Relatively High rating — insurance premiums often track this closely.
Personal Affordability Check
Renting at $1,723/mo in The Woodlands would take 14.5% of your income.
$1,837/mo under the 30% guideline.
Buying the median home ($456,400) would take 20.5% of your income toward principal & interest.
$886/mo under the 28% guideline.
Cost of housing in The Woodlands
Median home value is $456,400 and median gross rent is $1,723/month. For buyers, monthly costs depend heavily on current mortgage rates — worth checking before you commit.
FHFA's county-level home price index for Montgomery rose 2.22% over the past year (as of 2025).
HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom unit in the surrounding county is $1,573/month.
Climate & home insurance
FEMA rates The Woodlands's overall natural-hazard risk as Relatively High. Risk level is a major driver of home insurance premiums.
Moving to The Woodlands
Planning a move to The Woodlands? Compare licensed movers and get quotes based on your origin and move date.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the cost of living in The Woodlands, TX?
- In The Woodlands, the median home value is $456,400 and median rent is $1,723 per month, against a median household income of $142,384. These figures come from the US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022).
- How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in The Woodlands?
- Using the standard 30%-of-income rule of thumb, affording The Woodlands's median rent of $1,723/month takes an income of roughly $68,920 a year. See the full salary breakdown (renting and buying) for The Woodlands.
- Is it better to rent or buy in The Woodlands?
- Renting in The Woodlands at the median $1,723/month calls for about $68,920 a year under the standard 30% guideline; buying the median home at $456,400 takes roughly $104,422 a year in principal and interest (20% down, 30-year fixed, current rates). Timeline and down payment usually decide which makes more sense.
See the full salary breakdown for The Woodlands →
Cities with a similar cost of living
Matched on median rent and household income within 15% of The Woodlands's.