Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Carrollton, TX
VS
Pearland, TX
🏆 Pearland leads 12 of 23 categories
Carrollton
Texas
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$95,380
Violent Crime Index
36
Population
132,284 ✓ Larger
Pearland
Texas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$111,123 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
25 ✓ Safer
Population
124,478
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Carrollton, TX
Pros
Violent crime is well below the national average (137.1 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Smaller class sizes — 13.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Pearland by $15,743/yr
Pricier housing — median home is $327,300
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Pearland
Pearland, TX
Pros
30% less violent crime than Carrollton
Violent crime is well below the national average (95.9 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $15,743 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (3.2%)
More college-educated — 47.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 56°F
Cons
Longer commutes — 33.6 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Pearland
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 100.2 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Pearland
Median Income
$15,743
$111,123 vs $95,380/yr
Pearland
Violent Crime
30% lower
95.9 vs 137.1 per 100k
Pearland
Median Home Value
$16k less
$311,100 vs $327,300
Pearland
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
3.2% vs 3.7% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Carrollton, TX | Pearland, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High | 100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $327,300⚠ High | $311,100⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,555⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,622⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $95,380 | $111,123 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.7% | 3.2% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.4 min ✓ Shorter | 33.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 17.8% ✓ Higher | 10.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 47 | 43 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 36 | 25 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 63 ✓ Safer | 69 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (119) ✓ Better | A- (115) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.1% | 47.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.4% | 94.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | CARROLLTON-FARMERS BRANCH ISD | PEARLAND ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.9°F | 64.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer | 93.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 39.8" ✓ Drier | 53.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 132,284 ✓ Larger | 124,478 |
| Median Age | 38.6 ✓ Older | 36.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 58.3% | 76.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.9% | 28.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.9% ✓ More | 11.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Carrollton's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Pearland's 100.2 (US average = 100).
Pearland is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Pearland leads 12 of 23 categories. Carrollton wins 11 and Pearland wins 12. 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 Carrollton to Pearland or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($327,300 vs $311,100 median home), income ($95,380 vs $111,123), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Carrollton, TX and Pearland, TX are about 255 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.