Conroe receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
Stafford
Conroe
Opportunity
59 · Top 43%
vs60 · Top 41%
Growth
72 · Top 14%
vs68 · Top 20%
Climate
73 · Top 38%
vs71 · Top 47%
Physical resilience
43 · Bottom 34%
vs59 · Top 49%
Housing affordability
93 · Top 24%
vs79 · Bottom 47%
Schools
26 · Bottom 18%
vs66 · Top 32%
Access
98 · Top 19%
vs87 · Bottom 34%
Economic stability
73 · Top 22%
vs60 · Bottom 49%
Measured values
| Metric | Stafford | Conroe | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 17,401 | 102,360 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $87,432 | $76,206 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $38,516 | $39,945 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 2,482/sq mi | 1,349/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $257,700 | $309,600 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,519 | $1,393 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 38.7% | 54.5% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 5.1% | 4.7% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -0.5% | -0.5% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 41.4% | 34.1% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 8.0% | 11.2% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 586 | 1,121 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 33.7 | 11.0 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | -15.9% | -40.0% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 95°F | 94°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 45°F | 39°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 49.7" | 47.7" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 5 mi | 25 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 28.8 min | 30.7 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 32.3 | 33.7 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 7 | 41 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 15.56 | 15.38 | 2024-25 school year |
| Math proficiency | 22.0% | 49.7% | 2019-20 school year |
| Reading proficiency | 35.5% | 44.8% | 2019-20 school year |
| Free or reduced-price lunch eligibility | 72.0% | 52.1% | 2024-25 school year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
Stafford
Elevated or high exposure: hurricane.
Conroe
Elevated or high exposure: hurricane.
Full profiles: Stafford, TX · Conroe, TX · How this is calculated: methodology