Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Boise City, ID
VS
Sugar Land, TX
🏆 Sugar Land leads 14 of 23 categories
Boise City
Idaho
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$76,402
Violent Crime Index
77
Population
234,192 ✓ 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.
Boise City, ID
Pros
Rent averages $645/mo less ($1,223 vs $1,868)
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (3.8%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.4)
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Sugar Land
Cons
Median income trails Sugar Land by $55,845/yr
Sugar Land, TX
Pros
Households earn $55,845 more per year on average
73% less violent crime than Boise City
Violent crime is well below the national average (78.0 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 61.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 64°F vs 39°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,868/mo
Higher unemployment (5.0% vs 3.8%)
Longer commutes — 30.0 min average each way
Cost of living runs 7% higher than Boise City
Key Differences at a Glance
Boise City
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 93.4 vs 100.2 (100 = US avg)
Boise City
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
3.8% vs 5.0% unemployment
Sugar Land
Median Income
$55,845
$132,247 vs $76,402/yr
Sugar Land
Violent Crime
73% lower
78.0 vs 293.8 per 100k
Sugar Land
Median Home Value
$14k less
$387,900 vs $401,800
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Boise City, ID | Sugar Land, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.4 ✓ Cheaper | 100.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $401,800⚠ High | $387,900⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,223 ✓ Lower | $1,868⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $76,402 | $132,247 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.2 min ✓ Shorter | 30.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 14.4% | 16.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 68 | 39 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 77 | 21 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 53 ✓ Safer | 66 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) | A (125) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 45.8% | 61.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 95.2% ✓ Higher | 94.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | BOISE INDEPENDENT DISTRICT | FORT BEND ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.8°F | 64.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.7°F | 94.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.5" ✓ Drier | 54.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 17.6" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 234,192 ✓ Larger | 110,077 |
| Median Age | 37.9 | 42.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.9% | 81.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.9% | 22.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.2% | 18.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Boise City's cost of living index is 93.4 vs Sugar Land's 100.2 (US average = 100).
Boise City is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Sugar Land leads 14 of 23 categories. Boise City 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 Boise City to Sugar Land or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($401,800 vs $387,900 median home), income ($76,402 vs $132,247), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Boise City, ID and Sugar Land, TX are about 1,490 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.