Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Norman, OK
VS
Sugar Land, TX
🏆 Sugar Land leads 17 of 23 categories
Norman
Oklahoma
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$62,849
Violent Crime Index
68
Population
127,701 ✓ Larger
Sugar Land
Texas
17
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.
Norman, OK
Pros
Rent averages $864/mo less ($1,004 vs $1,868)
Homes cost $163k less ($224,900 vs $387,900)
Violent crime is well below the national average (260.2 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Sugar Land
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.0)
Cons
Median income trails Sugar Land by $69,398/yr
Higher unemployment (5.8% vs 5.0%)
Sugar Land, TX
Pros
Households earn $69,398 more per year on average
70% less violent crime than Norman
Violent crime is well below the national average (78.0 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (5.0%)
More college-educated — 61.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 64°F vs 50°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,868/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $387,900
Cost of living runs 9% higher than Norman
Longer commutes — 30.0 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
$163k less
$224,900 vs $387,900
Sugar Land
Median Income
$69,398
$132,247 vs $62,849/yr
Sugar Land
Violent Crime
70% lower
78.0 vs 260.2 per 100k
Sugar Land
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
5.0% vs 5.8% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Norman, OK | Sugar Land, 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 | $387,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,004 ✓ Lower | $1,868⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $62,849 | $132,247 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.6 min ✓ Shorter | 30.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 9.3% | 16.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 84 | 39 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 68 | 21 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High | 66 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) | A (125) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.6:1 | 16.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 45.6% | 61.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 94.0% | 94.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | NORMAN | FORT BEND ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 49.9°F | 64.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.5°F | 94.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 37.6" ✓ Drier | 54.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 4.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 127,701 ✓ Larger | 110,077 |
| Median Age | 31.0 | 42.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.4% | 81.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.1% | 22.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.4% | 18.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Norman's cost of living index is 91.0 vs Sugar Land's 100.2 (US average = 100).
Norman is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Sugar Land leads 17 of 23 categories. Norman wins 6 and Sugar Land wins 17. 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 Sugar Land or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($224,900 vs $387,900 median home), income ($62,849 vs $132,247), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Norman, OK and Sugar Land, TX are about 403 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.