Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Denton, TX
VS
Sugar Land, TX
🏆 Sugar Land leads 15 of 23 categories
Denton
Texas
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,921
Violent Crime Index
54
Population
142,262 ✓ Larger
Sugar Land
Texas
15
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.
Denton, TX
Pros
Rent averages $604/mo less ($1,264 vs $1,868)
Homes cost $92k less ($296,100 vs $387,900)
Violent crime is well below the national average (204.2 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Smaller class sizes — 13.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Sugar Land by $60,326/yr
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Sugar Land
Sugar Land, TX
Pros
Households earn $60,326 more per year on average
62% less violent crime than Denton
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 Denton
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,868/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $387,900
Longer commutes — 30.0 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Denton
Median Home Value
$92k less
$296,100 vs $387,900
Sugar Land
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 100.2 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Sugar Land
Median Income
$60,326
$132,247 vs $71,921/yr
Sugar Land
Violent Crime
62% lower
78.0 vs 204.2 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Denton, 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 | $296,100 ✓ Lower | $387,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,264 ✓ Lower | $1,868⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,921 | $132,247 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.7 min ✓ Shorter | 30.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 10.6% | 16.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 65 | 39 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 54 | 21 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 83 | 66 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) | A (125) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.0% | 61.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 91.5% | 94.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | DENTON ISD | FORT BEND ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.8°F | 64.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 95.9°F ✓ Warmer | 94.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.4" ✓ Drier | 54.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 142,262 ✓ Larger | 110,077 |
| Median Age | 30.4 | 42.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 49.4% | 81.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.5% | 22.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.2% | 18.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Denton'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 15 of 23 categories. Denton wins 8 and Sugar Land wins 15. 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 Denton to Sugar Land or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($296,100 vs $387,900 median home), income ($71,921 vs $132,247), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Denton, TX and Sugar Land, TX are about 266 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.