Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Edinburg, TX
VS
Sugar Land, TX
🏆 Sugar Land leads 14 of 23 categories
Edinburg
Texas
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
85.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,139
Violent Crime Index
71
Population
100,964
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 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Edinburg, TX
Pros
Homes cost $228k less ($159,600 vs $387,900)
Rent averages $948/mo less ($920 vs $1,868)
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Sugar Land
Living costs sit below the national average (index 85.6)
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 64°F
Cons
Median income trails Sugar Land by $78,108/yr
Higher unemployment (7.2% vs 5.0%)
Sugar Land, TX
Pros
Households earn $78,108 more per year on average
71% less violent crime than Edinburg
More college-educated — 61.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.2 pts lower (5.0%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (78.0 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $387,900
Higher rents — median is $1,868/mo
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Edinburg
Longer commutes — 30.0 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Edinburg
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 85.6 vs 100.2 (100 = US avg)
Edinburg
Median Home Value
$228k less
$159,600 vs $387,900
Sugar Land
Median Income
$78,108
$132,247 vs $54,139/yr
Sugar Land
Violent Crime
71% lower
78.0 vs 269.6 per 100k
Sugar Land
Unemployment
2.2 pp lower
5.0% vs 7.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Edinburg, TX | Sugar Land, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 85.6 ✓ Cheaper | 100.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $159,600 ✓ Lower | $387,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $920 ✓ Lower | $1,868⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,139 | $132,247 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.2%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.8 min ✓ Shorter | 30.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 9.3% | 16.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 76 | 39 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 71 | 21 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 84 | 66 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) | A (125) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.4% | 61.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 79.8% | 94.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | EDINBURG CISD | FORT BEND ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 70.2°F ✓ Warmer | 64.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 96.7°F ✓ Warmer | 94.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 26.0" ✓ Drier | 54.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 100,964 | 110,077 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 29.9 | 42.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.6% | 81.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 27.7% ✓ More | 22.6% |
| Over 65 | 9.5% | 18.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Edinburg's cost of living index is 85.6 vs Sugar Land's 100.2 (US average = 100).
Edinburg is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Sugar Land leads 14 of 23 categories. Edinburg 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 Edinburg to Sugar Land or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($159,600 vs $387,900 median home), income ($54,139 vs $132,247), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Edinburg, TX and Sugar Land, TX are about 274 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.