Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Berkeley, CA
VS
Pearland, TX
🏆 Pearland leads 16 of 22 categories
Berkeley
California
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$104,716
Violent Crime Index
168⚠ High
Population
121,385
Pearland
Texas
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$111,123 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
25 ✓ Safer
Population
124,478 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Berkeley, CA
Pros
More college-educated — 73.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 74°F vs 93°F
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,280,300
Violent crime (638.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $2,067/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 118.2)
Pearland, TX
Pros
Homes cost $969k less ($311,100 vs $1,280,300)
85% less violent crime than Berkeley
Rent averages $445/mo less ($1,622 vs $2,067)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.3 pts lower (3.2%)
18% cheaper overall cost of living than Berkeley
Violent crime is well below the national average (95.9 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Longer commutes — 33.6 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Pearland
Cost of Living
18% cheaper
COL index 100.2 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Pearland
Median Income
$6,407
$111,123 vs $104,716/yr
Pearland
Violent Crime
85% lower
95.9 vs 638.8 per 100k
Pearland
Median Home Value
$969k less
$311,100 vs $1,280,300
Pearland
Unemployment
2.3 pp lower
3.2% vs 5.5% unemployment
Pearland
Summer Heat
19.1°F warmer
July avg high 93.3°F vs 74.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Berkeley, CA | Pearland, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 118.2⚠ High | 100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $1,280,300⚠ High | $311,100⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,067⚠ High | $1,622⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $104,716 | $111,123 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High | 3.2% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.4 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 33.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 28.1% ✓ Higher | 10.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 200⚠ High | 43 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 168⚠ High | 25 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 249⚠ High | 69 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) | A- (115) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.1:1 | 16.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 73.8% ✓ Higher | 47.1% |
| High School or Higher | 96.1% ✓ Higher | 94.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Berkeley Unified | PEARLAND ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.9°F | 64.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 74.2°F | 93.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 26.1" ✓ Drier | 53.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 121,385 | 124,478 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.5 | 36.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 43.3% | 76.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 12.2% | 28.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.9% ✓ More | 11.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Berkeley's cost of living index is 118.2 vs Pearland's 100.2 (US average = 100).
Pearland is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Pearland leads 16 of 22 categories. Berkeley wins 6 and Pearland wins 16. 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 Berkeley to Pearland or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($1,280,300 vs $311,100 median home), income ($104,716 vs $111,123), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Berkeley, CA and Pearland, TX are about 1,646 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.