Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fayetteville, AR
VS
Sugar Land, TX
🏆 Sugar Land leads 16 of 23 categories
Fayetteville
Arkansas
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$56,881
Violent Crime Index
112⚠ High
Population
95,022
Sugar Land
Texas
16
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.
Fayetteville, AR
Pros
Rent averages $924/mo less ($944 vs $1,868)
Homes cost $97k less ($291,300 vs $387,900)
Commutes run 12 min shorter each way
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Sugar Land
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.0)
Cooler summers — July highs near 89°F vs 94°F
Cons
Median income trails Sugar Land by $75,366/yr
Sugar Land, TX
Pros
Households earn $75,366 more per year on average
82% less violent crime than Fayetteville
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 47°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,868/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $387,900
Cost of living runs 9% higher than Fayetteville
Longer commutes — 30.0 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Fayetteville
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 91.0 vs 100.2 (100 = US avg)
Fayetteville
Median Home Value
$97k less
$291,300 vs $387,900
Sugar Land
Median Income
$75,366
$132,247 vs $56,881/yr
Sugar Land
Violent Crime
82% lower
78.0 vs 423.7 per 100k
Sugar Land
Summer Heat
5.5°F warmer
July avg high 94.2°F vs 88.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fayetteville, AR | Sugar Land, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.0 ✓ Cheaper | 100.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $291,300 ✓ Lower | $387,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $944 ✓ Lower | $1,868⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $56,881 | $132,247 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.3%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.2 min ✓ Shorter | 30.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 12.8% | 16.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 112⚠ High | 39 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 112⚠ High | 21 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 113⚠ High | 66 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (117) | A (125) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 50.7% | 61.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 95.2% ✓ Higher | 94.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | FAYETTEVILLE SCHOOL DISTRICT | FORT BEND ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 46.5°F | 64.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.7°F | 94.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.3" ✓ Drier | 54.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.5" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 95,022 | 110,077 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 28.5 | 42.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 40.2% | 81.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 17.5% | 22.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 9.4% | 18.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fayetteville's cost of living index is 91.0 vs Sugar Land's 100.2 (US average = 100).
Fayetteville is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Sugar Land leads 16 of 23 categories. Fayetteville 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 Fayetteville to Sugar Land or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($291,300 vs $387,900 median home), income ($56,881 vs $132,247), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fayetteville, AR and Sugar Land, TX are about 456 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.