Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Amarillo, TX
VS
Sugar Land, TX
🏆 Sugar Land leads 14 of 23 categories
Amarillo
Texas
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,628
Violent Crime Index
182⚠ High
Population
200,360 ✓ Larger
Sugar Land
Texas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$132,247 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
21 ✓ Safer
Population
110,077
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Amarillo, TX
Pros
Homes cost $215k less ($172,700 vs $387,900)
Rent averages $871/mo less ($997 vs $1,868)
Commutes run 12 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (3.5%)
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Sugar Land
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.8)
Cons
Median income trails Sugar Land by $71,619/yr
Violent crime (690.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2655.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Sugar Land, TX
Pros
Households earn $71,619 more per year on average
89% less violent crime than Amarillo
More college-educated — 61.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (78.0 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 64°F vs 51°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $387,900
Higher rents — median is $1,868/mo
Higher unemployment (5.0% vs 3.5%)
Cost of living runs 9% higher than Amarillo
Key Differences at a Glance
Amarillo
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 90.8 vs 100.2 (100 = US avg)
Amarillo
Median Home Value
$215k less
$172,700 vs $387,900
Amarillo
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
3.5% vs 5.0% unemployment
Sugar Land
Median Income
$71,619
$132,247 vs $60,628/yr
Sugar Land
Violent Crime
89% lower
78.0 vs 690.5 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Amarillo, TX | Sugar Land, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.8 ✓ Cheaper | 100.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $172,700 ✓ Lower | $387,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $997 ✓ Lower | $1,868⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $60,628 | $132,247 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.5% ✓ Lower | 5.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.5 min ✓ Shorter | 30.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 4.9% | 16.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 160⚠ High | 39 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 182⚠ High | 21 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High | 66 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | A (125) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 25.2% | 61.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.1% | 94.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | AMARILLO ISD | FORT BEND ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.7°F | 64.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.0°F | 94.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 19.7" ✓ Drier | 54.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 17.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 200,360 ✓ Larger | 110,077 |
| Median Age | 34.4 | 42.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.6% | 81.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 26.5% ✓ More | 22.6% |
| Over 65 | 14.5% | 18.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Amarillo's cost of living index is 90.8 vs Sugar Land's 100.2 (US average = 100).
Amarillo is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Sugar Land leads 14 of 23 categories. Amarillo wins 9 and Sugar Land wins 14. 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 Amarillo to Sugar Land or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($172,700 vs $387,900 median home), income ($60,628 vs $132,247), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Amarillo, TX and Sugar Land, TX are about 530 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.