Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Norman, OK
VS
Pearland, TX
🏆 Pearland leads 16 of 23 categories
Norman
Oklahoma
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$62,849
Violent Crime Index
68
Population
127,701 ✓ Larger
Pearland
Texas
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$111,123 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
25 ✓ Safer
Population
124,478
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Norman, OK
Pros
Rent averages $618/mo less ($1,004 vs $1,622)
Homes cost $86k less ($224,900 vs $311,100)
Violent crime is well below the national average (260.2 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Pearland
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.0)
Cons
Median income trails Pearland by $48,274/yr
Higher unemployment (5.8% vs 3.2%)
Pearland, TX
Pros
Households earn $48,274 more per year on average
63% less violent crime than Norman
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.6 pts lower (3.2%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (95.9 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 50°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,622/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $311,100
Cost of living runs 9% higher than Norman
Longer commutes — 33.6 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Norman
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 91.0 vs 100.2 (100 = US avg)
Norman
Median Home Value
$86k less
$224,900 vs $311,100
Pearland
Median Income
$48,274
$111,123 vs $62,849/yr
Pearland
Violent Crime
63% lower
95.9 vs 260.2 per 100k
Pearland
Unemployment
2.6 pp lower
3.2% vs 5.8% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Norman, OK | Pearland, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.0 ✓ Cheaper | 100.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $224,900 ✓ Lower | $311,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,004 ✓ Lower | $1,622⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $62,849 | $111,123 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High | 3.2% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.6 min ✓ Shorter | 33.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 9.3% | 10.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 84 | 43 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 68 | 25 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High | 69 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) | A- (115) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.6:1 | 16.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 45.6% | 47.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 94.0% | 94.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | NORMAN | PEARLAND ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 49.9°F | 64.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.5°F | 93.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 37.6" ✓ Drier | 53.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 4.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 127,701 ✓ Larger | 124,478 |
| Median Age | 31.0 | 36.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.4% | 76.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.1% | 28.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.4% ✓ More | 11.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Norman's cost of living index is 91.0 vs Pearland's 100.2 (US average = 100).
Norman is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Pearland leads 16 of 23 categories. Norman wins 7 and Pearland wins 16. 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 Norman to Pearland or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($224,900 vs $311,100 median home), income ($62,849 vs $111,123), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Norman, OK and Pearland, TX are about 410 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.