Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Gresham, OR
VS
Sugar Land, TX
🏆 Sugar Land leads 19 of 23 categories
Gresham
Oregon
4
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$69,437
Violent Crime Index
108⚠ High
Population
113,525 ✓ Larger
Sugar Land
Texas
19
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.
Gresham, OR
Pros
Rent averages $416/mo less ($1,452 vs $1,868)
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 94°F
Cons
Median income trails Sugar Land by $62,810/yr
Higher unemployment (5.8% vs 5.0%)
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Sugar Land
Pricier housing — median home is $411,700
Sugar Land, TX
Pros
Households earn $62,810 more per year on average
81% less violent crime than Gresham
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 0.8 pts lower (5.0%)
Milder winters — January highs near 64°F vs 47°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,868/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Sugar Land
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 100.2 vs 106.6 (100 = US avg)
Sugar Land
Median Income
$62,810
$132,247 vs $69,437/yr
Sugar Land
Violent Crime
81% lower
78.0 vs 410.2 per 100k
Sugar Land
Median Home Value
$24k less
$387,900 vs $411,700
Sugar Land
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
5.0% vs 5.8% unemployment
Sugar Land
Summer Heat
12.6°F warmer
July avg high 94.2°F vs 81.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Gresham, OR | Sugar Land, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 106.6⚠ High | 100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $411,700⚠ High | $387,900⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,452⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,868⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $69,437 | $132,247 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.5 min ✓ Shorter | 30.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 10.2% | 16.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 111⚠ High | 39 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High | 21 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 116⚠ High | 66 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (81) | A (125) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.9:1 | 16.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 23.2% | 61.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.1% | 94.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Gresham-Barlow SD 10J | FORT BEND ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 46.7°F | 64.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 81.6°F | 94.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.7" ✓ Drier | 54.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.4" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 113,525 ✓ Larger | 110,077 |
| Median Age | 37.3 | 42.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.3% | 81.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.4% | 22.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.7% | 18.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Gresham's cost of living index is 106.6 vs Sugar Land's 100.2 (US average = 100).
Sugar Land is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Sugar Land leads 19 of 23 categories. Gresham wins 4 and Sugar Land wins 19. 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 Gresham to Sugar Land or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($411,700 vs $387,900 median home), income ($69,437 vs $132,247), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Gresham, OR and Sugar Land, TX are about 1,820 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.