Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Huntington Beach, CA
VS
Sugar Land, TX
🏆 Sugar Land leads 16 of 22 categories
Huntington Beach
California
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$114,747
Violent Crime Index
55
Population
197,481 ✓ 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.
Huntington Beach, CA
Pros
Violent crime is well below the national average (207.3 vs 380/100k)
Cooler summers — July highs near 79°F vs 94°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $976,800
Higher rents — median is $2,318/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Sugar Land
Sugar Land, TX
Pros
Homes cost $589k less ($387,900 vs $976,800)
62% less violent crime than Huntington Beach
Rent averages $450/mo less ($1,868 vs $2,318)
Violent crime is well below the national average (78.0 vs 380/100k)
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Huntington Beach
Households earn $17,500 more per year on average
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Sugar Land
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 100.2 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Sugar Land
Median Income
$17,500
$132,247 vs $114,747/yr
Sugar Land
Violent Crime
62% lower
78.0 vs 207.3 per 100k
Sugar Land
Median Home Value
$589k less
$387,900 vs $976,800
Sugar Land
Summer Heat
15.3°F warmer
July avg high 94.2°F vs 78.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Huntington Beach, CA | Sugar Land, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $976,800⚠ High | $387,900⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,318⚠ High | $1,868⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $114,747 | $132,247 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.7 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 30.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 16.6% | 16.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 71 | 39 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 55 | 21 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 95 | 66 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (97) | A (125) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 24.4:1 | 16.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.7% | 61.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 93.5% | 94.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Huntington Beach City Elementary | FORT BEND ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.0°F ✓ Warmer | 64.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 78.9°F | 94.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.2" ✓ Drier | 54.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 197,481 ✓ Larger | 110,077 |
| Median Age | 43.3 ✓ Older | 42.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.7% | 81.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 17.9% | 22.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 18.7% ✓ More | 18.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Huntington Beach's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Sugar Land's 100.2 (US average = 100).
Sugar Land is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Sugar Land leads 16 of 22 categories. Huntington Beach wins 6 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 Huntington Beach to Sugar Land or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($976,800 vs $387,900 median home), income ($114,747 vs $132,247), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Huntington Beach, CA and Sugar Land, TX are about 1,343 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.