Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Elk Grove, CA
VS
Sugar Land, TX
🏆 Sugar Land leads 18 of 22 categories
Elk Grove
California
4
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$115,864
Violent Crime Index
50
Population
176,105 ✓ Larger
Sugar Land
Texas
18
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.
Elk Grove, CA
Pros
Violent crime is well below the national average (189.9 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $560,500
Median income trails Sugar Land by $16,383/yr
Higher rents — median is $2,076/mo
Higher unemployment (6.4% vs 5.0%)
Sugar Land, TX
Pros
59% less violent crime than Elk Grove
Homes cost $173k less ($387,900 vs $560,500)
Violent crime is well below the national average (78.0 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 61.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (5.0%)
Households earn $16,383 more per year on average
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Sugar Land
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 100.2 vs 108.9 (100 = US avg)
Sugar Land
Median Income
$16,383
$132,247 vs $115,864/yr
Sugar Land
Violent Crime
59% lower
78.0 vs 189.9 per 100k
Sugar Land
Median Home Value
$173k less
$387,900 vs $560,500
Sugar Land
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
5.0% vs 6.4% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Elk Grove, CA | Sugar Land, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.9⚠ High | 100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $560,500⚠ High | $387,900⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,076⚠ High | $1,868⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $115,864 | $132,247 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.4%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.1 min⚠ High | 30.0 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.7% | 16.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 53 | 39 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 50 | 21 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 59 ✓ Safer | 66 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (96) | A (125) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.7:1 | 16.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.0% | 61.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.7% | 94.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Elk Grove Unified | FORT BEND ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.0°F | 64.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.6°F | 94.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 18.1" ✓ Drier | 54.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 176,105 ✓ Larger | 110,077 |
| Median Age | 38.7 | 42.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 73.8% | 81.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 25.9% ✓ More | 22.6% |
| Over 65 | 13.3% | 18.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Elk Grove's cost of living index is 108.9 vs Sugar Land's 100.2 (US average = 100).
Sugar Land is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Sugar Land leads 18 of 22 categories. Elk Grove wins 4 and Sugar Land wins 18. 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 Elk Grove to Sugar Land or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($560,500 vs $387,900 median home), income ($115,864 vs $132,247), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Elk Grove, CA and Sugar Land, TX are about 1,589 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.