Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Birmingham, AL
VS
Sugar Land, TX
🏆 Sugar Land leads 18 of 23 categories
Birmingham
Alabama
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$42,464
Violent Crime Index
328⚠ High
Population
200,431 ✓ Larger
Sugar Land
Texas
18
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.
Birmingham, AL
Pros
Homes cost $265k less ($123,000 vs $387,900)
Rent averages $873/mo less ($995 vs $1,868)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.6)
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Sugar Land
Cons
Median income trails Sugar Land by $89,783/yr
Violent crime (1246.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4031.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.5% vs 5.0%)
Sugar Land, TX
Pros
Households earn $89,783 more per year on average
94% less violent crime than Birmingham
More college-educated — 61.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.5 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 55°F
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 8% higher than Birmingham
Key Differences at a Glance
Birmingham
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 92.6 vs 100.2 (100 = US avg)
Birmingham
Median Home Value
$265k less
$123,000 vs $387,900
Sugar Land
Median Income
$89,783
$132,247 vs $42,464/yr
Sugar Land
Violent Crime
94% lower
78.0 vs 1246.6 per 100k
Sugar Land
Unemployment
2.5 pp lower
5.0% vs 7.5% unemployment
Sugar Land
Summer Heat
3.2°F warmer
July avg high 94.2°F vs 91.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Birmingham, AL | Sugar Land, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.6 ✓ Cheaper | 100.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $123,000 ✓ Lower | $387,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $995 ✓ Lower | $1,868⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $42,464 | $132,247 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.5%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.6 min ✓ Shorter | 30.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.6% | 16.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 274⚠ High | 39 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 328⚠ High | 21 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 192⚠ High | 66 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (89) | A (125) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.2:1 | 16.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 29.4% | 61.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.1% | 94.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Birmingham City | FORT BEND ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.5°F | 64.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 91.0°F | 94.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 58.1" | 54.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.4" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 200,431 ✓ Larger | 110,077 |
| Median Age | 35.9 | 42.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.9% | 81.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.5% | 22.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.2% | 18.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Birmingham's cost of living index is 92.6 vs Sugar Land's 100.2 (US average = 100).
Birmingham is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Sugar Land leads 18 of 23 categories. Birmingham wins 5 and Sugar Land wins 18. 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 Birmingham to Sugar Land or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($123,000 vs $387,900 median home), income ($42,464 vs $132,247), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Birmingham, AL and Sugar Land, TX are about 587 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.