Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Garland, TX
VS
Sugar Land, TX
🏆 Sugar Land leads 15 of 23 categories
Garland
Texas
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,044
Violent Crime Index
61
Population
244,026 ✓ Larger
Sugar Land
Texas
15
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.
Garland, TX
Pros
Homes cost $159k less ($229,000 vs $387,900)
Rent averages $447/mo less ($1,421 vs $1,868)
Violent crime is well below the national average (232.7 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Median income trails Sugar Land by $61,203/yr
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Sugar Land
Sugar Land, TX
Pros
Households earn $61,203 more per year on average
66% less violent crime than Garland
More college-educated — 61.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (78.0 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 64°F vs 56°F
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Garland
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $387,900
Higher rents — median is $1,868/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Garland
Median Home Value
$159k less
$229,000 vs $387,900
Sugar Land
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 100.2 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Sugar Land
Median Income
$61,203
$132,247 vs $71,044/yr
Sugar Land
Violent Crime
66% lower
78.0 vs 232.7 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Garland, TX | Sugar Land, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High | 100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $229,000 ✓ Lower | $387,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,421⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,868⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,044 | $132,247 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.7 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 30.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 9.4% | 16.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 75 | 39 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 61 | 21 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 95 | 66 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (89) | A (125) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.1% | 61.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 78.6% | 94.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | GARLAND ISD | FORT BEND ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.9°F | 64.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer | 94.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.8" ✓ Drier | 54.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 244,026 ✓ Larger | 110,077 |
| Median Age | 34.4 | 42.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.0% | 81.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 25.8% ✓ More | 22.6% |
| Over 65 | 12.4% | 18.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Garland's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Sugar Land's 100.2 (US average = 100).
Sugar Land is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Sugar Land leads 15 of 23 categories. Garland wins 8 and Sugar Land wins 15. 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 Garland to Sugar Land or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($229,000 vs $387,900 median home), income ($71,044 vs $132,247), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Garland, TX and Sugar Land, TX are about 237 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.