Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Mesa, AZ
VS
Sugar Land, TX
🏆 Sugar Land leads 12 of 22 categories
Mesa
Arizona
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$73,766
Violent Crime Index
127⚠ High
Population
503,390 ✓ Larger
Sugar Land
Texas
12
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.
Mesa, AZ
Pros
Rent averages $516/mo less ($1,352 vs $1,868)
Homes cost $60k less ($327,700 vs $387,900)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Sugar Land by $58,481/yr
Violent crime (482.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Hot summers — July highs average 106°F
Sugar Land, TX
Pros
Households earn $58,481 more per year on average
84% less violent crime than Mesa
More college-educated — 61.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (78.0 vs 380/100k)
Cooler summers — July highs near 94°F vs 106°F
Smaller class sizes — 16.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,868/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $387,900
Longer commutes — 30.0 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Mesa
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 98.4 vs 100.2 (100 = US avg)
Mesa
Median Home Value
$60k less
$327,700 vs $387,900
Mesa
Summer Heat
11.7°F warmer
July avg high 105.9°F vs 94.2°F
Sugar Land
Median Income
$58,481
$132,247 vs $73,766/yr
Sugar Land
Violent Crime
84% lower
78.0 vs 482.7 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Mesa, AZ | Sugar Land, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.4 ✓ Cheaper | 100.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $327,700⚠ High ✓ Lower | $387,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,352⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,868⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $73,766 | $132,247 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.8 min ✓ Shorter | 30.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 14.6% | 16.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 104⚠ High | 39 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 127⚠ High | 21 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 | 66 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | A (125) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.3:1 | 16.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 30.0% | 61.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.7% | 94.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Mesa Unified District (4235) | FORT BEND ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.5°F ✓ Warmer | 64.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 105.9°F ✓ Warmer | 94.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 9.8" ✓ Drier | 54.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 503,390 ✓ Larger | 110,077 |
| Median Age | 36.8 | 42.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 63.2% | 81.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.0% ✓ More | 22.6% |
| Over 65 | 16.9% | 18.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Mesa's cost of living index is 98.4 vs Sugar Land's 100.2 (US average = 100).
Mesa is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Sugar Land leads 12 of 22 categories. Mesa wins 10 and Sugar Land wins 12. 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 Mesa to Sugar Land or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($327,700 vs $387,900 median home), income ($73,766 vs $132,247), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Mesa, AZ and Sugar Land, TX are about 982 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.