Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Carrollton, TX
VS
Sugar Land, TX
🏆 Sugar Land leads 13 of 23 categories
Carrollton
Texas
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$95,380
Violent Crime Index
36
Population
132,284 ✓ Larger
Sugar Land
Texas
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
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.
Carrollton, TX
Pros
Violent crime is well below the national average (137.1 vs 380/100k)
Rent averages $313/mo less ($1,555 vs $1,868)
Homes cost $61k less ($327,300 vs $387,900)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.3 pts lower (3.7%)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Smaller class sizes — 13.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Sugar Land by $36,867/yr
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Sugar Land
Sugar Land, TX
Pros
43% less violent crime than Carrollton
Households earn $36,867 more per year on average
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 56°F
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Carrollton
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,868/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $387,900
Higher unemployment (5.0% vs 3.7%)
Longer commutes — 30.0 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Carrollton
Median Home Value
$61k less
$327,300 vs $387,900
Carrollton
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
3.7% vs 5.0% unemployment
Sugar Land
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 100.2 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Sugar Land
Median Income
$36,867
$132,247 vs $95,380/yr
Sugar Land
Violent Crime
43% lower
78.0 vs 137.1 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Carrollton, TX | Sugar Land, 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 ✓ Lower | $387,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,555⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,868⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $95,380 | $132,247 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.7% ✓ Lower | 5.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.4 min ✓ Shorter | 30.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 17.8% ✓ Higher | 16.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 47 | 39 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 36 | 21 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 63 ✓ Safer | 66 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (119) | A (125) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.1% | 61.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.4% | 94.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | CARROLLTON-FARMERS BRANCH ISD | FORT BEND ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.9°F | 64.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer | 94.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 39.8" ✓ Drier | 54.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 132,284 ✓ Larger | 110,077 |
| Median Age | 38.6 | 42.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 58.3% | 81.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.9% | 22.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.9% | 18.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Carrollton's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Sugar Land's 100.2 (US average = 100).
Sugar Land is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Sugar Land leads 13 of 23 categories. Carrollton wins 10 and Sugar Land wins 13. 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 Sugar Land or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($327,300 vs $387,900 median home), income ($95,380 vs $132,247), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Carrollton, TX and Sugar Land, TX are about 246 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.