Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Irving, TX
VS
Sugar Land, TX
🏆 Sugar Land leads 14 of 23 categories
Irving
Texas
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$76,686
Violent Crime Index
72
Population
254,962 ✓ Larger
Sugar Land
Texas
14
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.
Irving, TX
Pros
Homes cost $128k less ($259,500 vs $387,900)
Rent averages $445/mo less ($1,423 vs $1,868)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (4.1%)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Sugar Land by $55,561/yr
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Sugar Land
Sugar Land, TX
Pros
Households earn $55,561 more per year on average
72% less violent crime than Irving
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 57°F
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Irving
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $387,900
Higher rents — median is $1,868/mo
Higher unemployment (5.0% vs 4.1%)
Longer commutes — 30.0 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Irving
Median Home Value
$128k less
$259,500 vs $387,900
Irving
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
4.1% vs 5.0% unemployment
Sugar Land
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 100.2 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Sugar Land
Median Income
$55,561
$132,247 vs $76,686/yr
Sugar Land
Violent Crime
72% lower
78.0 vs 275.4 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Irving, 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 | $259,500 ✓ Lower | $387,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,423⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,868⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $76,686 | $132,247 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.8 min ✓ Shorter | 30.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 14.0% | 16.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 85 | 39 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 | 21 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 105⚠ High | 66 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (109) | A (125) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.5% | 61.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 79.7% | 94.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | IRVING ISD | FORT BEND ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.5°F | 64.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 95.6°F ✓ Warmer | 94.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 37.0" ✓ Drier | 54.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.6" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 254,962 ✓ Larger | 110,077 |
| Median Age | 32.4 | 42.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 37.2% | 81.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 26.4% ✓ More | 22.6% |
| Over 65 | 8.3% | 18.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Irving'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 14 of 23 categories. Irving wins 9 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 Irving to Sugar Land or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($259,500 vs $387,900 median home), income ($76,686 vs $132,247), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Irving, TX and Sugar Land, TX are about 239 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.