Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Meridian, ID
VS
Sugar Land, TX
🏆 Sugar Land leads 13 of 23 categories
Meridian
Idaho
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$93,296
Violent Crime Index
39
Population
119,872 ✓ Larger
Sugar Land
Texas
13
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.
Meridian, ID
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.3 pts lower (2.7%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (146.8 vs 380/100k)
Rent averages $320/mo less ($1,548 vs $1,868)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.4)
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Sugar Land
Cons
Median income trails Sugar Land by $38,951/yr
Pricier housing — median home is $425,800
Sugar Land, TX
Pros
47% less violent crime than Meridian
Households earn $38,951 more per year on average
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 39°F
Homes cost $38k less ($387,900 vs $425,800)
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,868/mo
Higher unemployment (5.0% vs 2.7%)
Longer commutes — 30.0 min average each way
Cost of living runs 7% higher than Meridian
Key Differences at a Glance
Meridian
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 93.4 vs 100.2 (100 = US avg)
Meridian
Unemployment
2.3 pp lower
2.7% vs 5.0% unemployment
Sugar Land
Median Income
$38,951
$132,247 vs $93,296/yr
Sugar Land
Violent Crime
47% lower
78.0 vs 146.8 per 100k
Sugar Land
Median Home Value
$38k less
$387,900 vs $425,800
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Meridian, ID | Sugar Land, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.4 ✓ Cheaper | 100.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $425,800⚠ High | $387,900⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,548⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,868⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $93,296 | $132,247 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.7% ✓ Lower | 5.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.1 min ✓ Shorter | 30.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 14.8% | 16.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 34 ✓ Safer | 39 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 39 | 21 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 27 ✓ Safer | 66 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (103) | A (125) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.4:1 | 16.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 43.5% | 61.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 96.1% ✓ Higher | 94.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | JOINT SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 2 | FORT BEND ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.8°F | 64.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.7°F | 94.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 12.4" ✓ Drier | 54.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 18.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 119,872 ✓ Larger | 110,077 |
| Median Age | 37.1 | 42.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 76.3% | 81.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 27.1% ✓ More | 22.6% |
| Over 65 | 13.4% | 18.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Meridian's cost of living index is 93.4 vs Sugar Land's 100.2 (US average = 100).
Meridian is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Sugar Land leads 13 of 23 categories. Meridian wins 10 and Sugar Land wins 13. 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 Meridian to Sugar Land or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($425,800 vs $387,900 median home), income ($93,296 vs $132,247), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Meridian, ID and Sugar Land, TX are about 1,497 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.