Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Elizabeth, NJ
VS
Sugar Land, TX
🏆 Sugar Land leads 16 of 23 categories
Elizabeth
New Jersey
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$59,939
Violent Crime Index
108⚠ High
Population
135,665 ✓ Larger
Sugar Land
Texas
16
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.
Elizabeth, NJ
Pros
Rent averages $478/mo less ($1,390 vs $1,868)
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Homes cost $30k less ($358,400 vs $387,900)
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 94°F
Smaller class sizes — 13.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Sugar Land by $72,308/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Sugar Land
Property crime (2657.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Sugar Land, TX
Pros
Households earn $72,308 more per year on average
81% less violent crime than Elizabeth
More college-educated — 61.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (78.0 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (5.0%)
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Elizabeth
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,868/mo
Longer commutes — 30.0 min average each way
Pricier housing — median home is $387,900
Key Differences at a Glance
Elizabeth
Median Home Value
$30k less
$358,400 vs $387,900
Sugar Land
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 100.2 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Sugar Land
Median Income
$72,308
$132,247 vs $59,939/yr
Sugar Land
Violent Crime
81% lower
78.0 vs 408.7 per 100k
Sugar Land
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
5.0% vs 5.9% unemployment
Sugar Land
Summer Heat
7.3°F warmer
July avg high 94.2°F vs 86.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Elizabeth, NJ | Sugar Land, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 112.5⚠ High | 100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $358,400⚠ High ✓ Lower | $387,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,390⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,868⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,939 | $132,247 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.7 min ✓ Shorter | 30.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 4.8% | 16.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 115⚠ High | 39 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High | 21 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 127⚠ High | 66 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (91) | A (125) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 14.1% | 61.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 74.3% | 94.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Elizabeth Public Schools | FORT BEND ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 40.0°F | 64.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.9°F | 94.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.6" ✓ Drier | 54.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 31.5" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 135,665 ✓ Larger | 110,077 |
| Median Age | 35.7 | 42.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 25.1% | 81.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 25.4% ✓ More | 22.6% |
| Over 65 | 11.4% | 18.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Elizabeth's cost of living index is 112.5 vs Sugar Land's 100.2 (US average = 100).
Sugar Land is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Sugar Land leads 16 of 23 categories. Elizabeth wins 7 and Sugar Land wins 16. 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 Elizabeth to Sugar Land or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($358,400 vs $387,900 median home), income ($59,939 vs $132,247), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Elizabeth, NJ and Sugar Land, TX are about 1,427 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.