Head-to-Head · City Comparison
New Braunfels, TX
VS
Sugar Land, TX
🏆 Sugar Land leads 13 of 22 categories
New Braunfels
Texas
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$85,827
Violent Crime Index
41
Population
92,993
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 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
New Braunfels, TX
Pros
Homes cost $97k less ($290,800 vs $387,900)
Rent averages $442/mo less ($1,426 vs $1,868)
Violent crime is well below the national average (156.4 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (3.8%)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.7)
Cons
Median income trails Sugar Land by $46,420/yr
Sugar Land, TX
Pros
Households earn $46,420 more per year on average
50% less violent crime than New Braunfels
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
Pricier housing — median home is $387,900
Higher rents — median is $1,868/mo
Higher unemployment (5.0% vs 3.8%)
Longer commutes — 30.0 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
New Braunfels
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 93.7 vs 100.2 (100 = US avg)
New Braunfels
Median Home Value
$97k less
$290,800 vs $387,900
New Braunfels
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
3.8% vs 5.0% unemployment
Sugar Land
Median Income
$46,420
$132,247 vs $85,827/yr
Sugar Land
Violent Crime
50% lower
78.0 vs 156.4 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | New Braunfels, TX | Sugar Land, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.7 ✓ Cheaper | 100.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $290,800 ✓ Lower | $387,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,426⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,868⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $85,827 | $132,247 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.5 min ✓ Shorter | 30.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 11.4% | 16.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 49 | 39 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 41 | 21 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 61 ✓ Safer | 66 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (106) | A (125) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 38.0% | 61.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 91.7% | 94.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | COMAL ISD | FORT BEND ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 61.7°F | 64.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 93.4°F | 94.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 35.4" ✓ Drier | 54.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 92,993 | 110,077 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.1 | 42.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 63.8% | 81.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.0% ✓ More | 22.6% |
| Over 65 | 13.9% | 18.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
New Braunfels's cost of living index is 93.7 vs Sugar Land's 100.2 (US average = 100).
New Braunfels is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Sugar Land leads 13 of 22 categories. New Braunfels wins 9 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 New Braunfels to Sugar Land or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($290,800 vs $387,900 median home), income ($85,827 vs $132,247), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
New Braunfels, TX and Sugar Land, TX are about 149 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.