Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Albany, NY
VS
Sugar Land, TX
🏆 Sugar Land leads 17 of 23 categories
Albany
New York
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,736
Violent Crime Index
215⚠ High
Population
99,692
Sugar Land
Texas
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$132,247 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
21 ✓ Safer
Population
110,077 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Albany, NY
Pros
Homes cost $175k less ($213,400 vs $387,900)
Rent averages $738/mo less ($1,130 vs $1,868)
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 94°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.6:1 student-teacher ratio
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Sugar Land
Cons
Median income trails Sugar Land by $77,511/yr
Violent crime (816.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2848.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.0% vs 5.0%)
Sugar Land, TX
Pros
Households earn $77,511 more per year on average
90% less violent crime than Albany
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.0 pts lower (5.0%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (78.0 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 64°F vs 33°F
More college-educated — 61.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $387,900
Higher rents — median is $1,868/mo
Longer commutes — 30.0 min average each way
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Albany
Key Differences at a Glance
Albany
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 97.6 vs 100.2 (100 = US avg)
Albany
Median Home Value
$175k less
$213,400 vs $387,900
Sugar Land
Median Income
$77,511
$132,247 vs $54,736/yr
Sugar Land
Violent Crime
90% lower
78.0 vs 816.9 per 100k
Sugar Land
Unemployment
3.0 pp lower
5.0% vs 8.0% unemployment
Sugar Land
Summer Heat
10.3°F warmer
July avg high 94.2°F vs 83.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Albany, NY | Sugar Land, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.6 ✓ Cheaper | 100.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $213,400 ✓ Lower | $387,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,130 ✓ Lower | $1,868⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,736 | $132,247 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.0%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter | 30.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 11.1% | 16.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 183⚠ High | 39 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 215⚠ High | 21 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 136⚠ High | 66 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) | A (125) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 43.0% | 61.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.8% | 94.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ALBANY CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | FORT BEND ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.8°F | 64.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.9°F | 94.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.1" ✓ Drier | 54.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 56.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,692 | 110,077 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.0 | 42.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 36.7% | 81.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 15.1% | 22.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.7% | 18.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Albany's cost of living index is 97.6 vs Sugar Land's 100.2 (US average = 100).
Albany is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Sugar Land leads 17 of 23 categories. Albany wins 6 and Sugar Land wins 17. 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 Albany to Sugar Land or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($213,400 vs $387,900 median home), income ($54,736 vs $132,247), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Albany, NY and Sugar Land, TX are about 1,509 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.