Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Independence, MO
VS
Sugar Land, TX
🏆 Sugar Land leads 14 of 22 categories
Independence
Missouri
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$57,415
Violent Crime Index
150⚠ High
Population
122,218 ✓ Larger
Sugar Land
Texas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High
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.
Independence, MO
Pros
Homes cost $237k less ($150,800 vs $387,900)
Rent averages $848/mo less ($1,020 vs $1,868)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.3)
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Sugar Land
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 94°F
Cons
Median income trails Sugar Land by $74,832/yr
Violent crime (571.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3523.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.2% vs 5.0%)
Sugar Land, TX
Pros
Households earn $74,832 more per year on average
86% less violent crime than Independence
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 1.2 pts lower (5.0%)
Milder winters — January highs near 64°F vs 38°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $387,900
Higher rents — median is $1,868/mo
Longer commutes — 30.0 min average each way
Cost of living runs 7% higher than Independence
Key Differences at a Glance
Independence
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 93.3 vs 100.2 (100 = US avg)
Independence
Median Home Value
$237k less
$150,800 vs $387,900
Sugar Land
Median Income
$74,832
$132,247 vs $57,415/yr
Sugar Land
Violent Crime
86% lower
78.0 vs 571.2 per 100k
Sugar Land
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
5.0% vs 6.2% unemployment
Sugar Land
Summer Heat
7.3°F warmer
July avg high 94.2°F vs 86.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Independence, MO | Sugar Land, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.3 ✓ Cheaper | 100.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $150,800 ✓ Lower | $387,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,020 ✓ Lower | $1,868⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $57,415 | $132,247 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.2%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.9 min ✓ Shorter | 30.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 8.2% | 16.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 157⚠ High | 39 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 150⚠ High | 21 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 168⚠ High | 66 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) | A (125) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.5% | 61.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.0% | 94.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | INDEPENDENCE 30 | FORT BEND ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 37.6°F | 64.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.9°F | 94.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.7" ✓ Drier | 54.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 13.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 122,218 ✓ Larger | 110,077 |
| Median Age | 39.5 | 42.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.5% | 81.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.6% | 22.6% |
| Over 65 | 18.4% ✓ More | 18.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Independence's cost of living index is 93.3 vs Sugar Land's 100.2 (US average = 100).
Independence is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Sugar Land leads 14 of 22 categories. Independence wins 8 and Sugar Land wins 14. 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 Independence to Sugar Land or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($150,800 vs $387,900 median home), income ($57,415 vs $132,247), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Independence, MO and Sugar Land, TX are about 660 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.