Head-to-Head · City Comparison
East Los Angeles, CA
VS
Sugar Land, TX
🏆 Sugar Land leads 17 of 22 categories
East Los Angeles
California
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,119
Violent Crime Index
147⚠ High
Population
117,222 ✓ Larger
Sugar Land
Texas
17
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.
East Los Angeles, CA
Pros
Rent averages $499/mo less ($1,369 vs $1,868)
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 94°F
Cons
Median income trails Sugar Land by $68,128/yr
Pricier housing — median home is $582,400
Violent crime (558.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Sugar Land, TX
Pros
Households earn $68,128 more per year on average
86% less violent crime than East Los Angeles
Homes cost $195k less ($387,900 vs $582,400)
More college-educated — 61.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (78.0 vs 380/100k)
15% cheaper overall cost of living than East Los Angeles
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,868/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Sugar Land
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 100.2 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Sugar Land
Median Income
$68,128
$132,247 vs $64,119/yr
Sugar Land
Violent Crime
86% lower
78.0 vs 558.4 per 100k
Sugar Land
Median Home Value
$195k less
$387,900 vs $582,400
Sugar Land
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
5.0% vs 6.3% unemployment
Sugar Land
Summer Heat
12.2°F warmer
July avg high 94.2°F vs 82.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | East Los Angeles, CA | Sugar Land, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $582,400⚠ High | $387,900⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,369⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,868⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,119 | $132,247 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.3%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.8 min⚠ High | 30.0 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.0% | 16.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 124⚠ High | 39 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 147⚠ High | 21 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 91 | 66 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (68) | A (125) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.4:1 | 16.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 11.0% | 61.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 55.4% | 94.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Animo Ellen Ochoa Charter Middle District | FORT BEND ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 68.0°F ✓ Warmer | 64.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 82.0°F | 94.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.2" ✓ Drier | 54.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 117,222 ✓ Larger | 110,077 |
| Median Age | 33.2 | 42.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 34.9% | 81.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.6% ✓ More | 22.6% |
| Over 65 | 10.8% | 18.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
East Los Angeles's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Sugar Land's 100.2 (US average = 100).
Sugar Land is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Sugar Land leads 17 of 22 categories. East Los Angeles wins 5 and Sugar Land wins 17. 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 East Los Angeles to Sugar Land or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($582,400 vs $387,900 median home), income ($64,119 vs $132,247), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
East Los Angeles, CA and Sugar Land, TX are about 1,355 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.