West Palm Beach vs The Woodlands: Cost of Living (2026)

A side-by-side comparison of West Palm Beach, FL and The Woodlands, TX, using US Census Bureau data.

MetricWest Palm Beach, FLThe Woodlands, TX
Population117,588118,402
Median household income$64,044$142,384
Median home value$324,800$456,400
Median rent (/mo)$1,614$1,723

Source: US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022). Highlighted cell = more affordable / higher income.

Comparing West Palm Beach, FL and The Woodlands, TX comes down to what you value most. West Palm Beach has the lower median home value, and West Palm Beach has the lower median rent.

The Woodlands has the higher median household income, which affects how far a paycheck stretches against local housing costs. The table below breaks down the key numbers side by side, all sourced from the US Census Bureau.

Frequently asked questions

Is it cheaper to live in West Palm Beach or The Woodlands?
By median home value, West Palm Beach is the cheaper of the two ($324,800 vs $456,400). Rent and income differ too — see the full comparison above.
Which has higher salaries, West Palm Beach or The Woodlands?
Median household income is $64,044 in West Palm Beach versus $142,384 in The Woodlands, per the US Census Bureau.

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