Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Los Angeles, CA
VS
Sugar Land, TX
🏆 Sugar Land leads 18 of 22 categories
Los Angeles
California
4
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$76,244
Violent Crime Index
192⚠ High
Population
3,881,041 ✓ Larger
Sugar Land
Texas
18
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.
Los Angeles, CA
Pros
Cooler summers — July highs near 78°F vs 94°F
Rent averages $77/mo less ($1,791 vs $1,868)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $822,600
Median income trails Sugar Land by $56,003/yr
Violent crime (728.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Sugar Land, TX
Pros
Homes cost $435k less ($387,900 vs $822,600)
Households earn $56,003 more per year on average
89% less violent crime than Los Angeles
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.7 pts lower (5.0%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (78.0 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 61.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,868/mo
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
$56,003
$132,247 vs $76,244/yr
Sugar Land
Violent Crime
89% lower
78.0 vs 728.5 per 100k
Sugar Land
Median Home Value
$435k less
$387,900 vs $822,600
Sugar Land
Unemployment
2.7 pp lower
5.0% vs 7.7% unemployment
Sugar Land
Summer Heat
16.2°F warmer
July avg high 94.2°F vs 78.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Los Angeles, 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 | $822,600⚠ High | $387,900⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,791⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,868⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $76,244 | $132,247 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.7%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 31.3 min⚠ High | 30.0 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 15.1% | 16.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 143⚠ High | 39 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 192⚠ High | 21 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 71 | 66 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | A (125) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.2:1 | 16.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.7% | 61.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 78.7% | 94.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Los Angeles Unified | FORT BEND ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 66.6°F ✓ Warmer | 64.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 78.0°F | 94.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.1" ✓ Drier | 54.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 3,881,041 ✓ Larger | 110,077 |
| Median Age | 36.5 | 42.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 36.6% | 81.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.7% | 22.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.4% | 18.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Los Angeles'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 18 of 22 categories. Los Angeles wins 4 and Sugar Land wins 18. 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 Los Angeles to Sugar Land or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($822,600 vs $387,900 median home), income ($76,244 vs $132,247), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Los Angeles, CA and Sugar Land, TX are about 1,369 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.