Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Arden-Arcade, CA
VS
Sugar Land, TX
🏆 Sugar Land leads 17 of 22 categories
Arden-Arcade
California
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,479
Violent Crime Index
136⚠ High
Population
96,076
Sugar Land
Texas
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
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.
Arden-Arcade, CA
Pros
Rent averages $483/mo less ($1,385 vs $1,868)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Sugar Land by $67,768/yr
Violent crime (518.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $466,300
Higher unemployment (8.1% vs 5.0%)
Sugar Land, TX
Pros
Households earn $67,768 more per year on average
85% less violent crime than Arden-Arcade
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.1 pts lower (5.0%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (78.0 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 61.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Homes cost $78k less ($387,900 vs $466,300)
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,868/mo
Longer commutes — 30.0 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Sugar Land
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 100.2 vs 108.9 (100 = US avg)
Sugar Land
Median Income
$67,768
$132,247 vs $64,479/yr
Sugar Land
Violent Crime
85% lower
78.0 vs 518.1 per 100k
Sugar Land
Median Home Value
$78k less
$387,900 vs $466,300
Sugar Land
Unemployment
3.1 pp lower
5.0% vs 8.1% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Arden-Arcade, CA | Sugar Land, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.9⚠ High | 100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $466,300⚠ High | $387,900⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,385⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,868⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,479 | $132,247 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.1%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.4 min ✓ Shorter | 30.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 13.9% | 16.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 119⚠ High | 39 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 136⚠ High | 21 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 | 66 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | A (125) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.6:1 | 16.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.3% | 61.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.9% | 94.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | San Juan Unified | FORT BEND ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.5°F | 64.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 94.4°F ✓ Warmer | 94.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 21.5" ✓ Drier | 54.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 96,076 | 110,077 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.0 | 42.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.9% | 81.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.8% ✓ More | 22.6% |
| Over 65 | 16.6% | 18.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Arden-Arcade's cost of living index is 108.9 vs Sugar Land's 100.2 (US average = 100).
Sugar Land is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Sugar Land leads 17 of 22 categories. Arden-Arcade wins 5 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 Arden-Arcade to Sugar Land or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($466,300 vs $387,900 median home), income ($64,479 vs $132,247), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Arden-Arcade, CA and Sugar Land, TX are about 1,592 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.