Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Pearland, TX
VS
Raleigh, NC
🏆 Pearland leads 14 of 23 categories
Pearland
Texas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$111,123 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
25 ✓ Safer
Population
124,478
Raleigh
North Carolina
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$78,631
Violent Crime Index
129⚠ High
Population
465,517 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Pearland, TX
Pros
80% less violent crime than Raleigh
Households earn $32,492 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (95.9 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.3 pts lower (3.2%)
Homes cost $36k less ($311,100 vs $347,000)
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 52°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,622/mo
Longer commutes — 33.6 min average each way
Cost of living runs 2% higher than Raleigh
Raleigh, NC
Pros
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
Rent averages $251/mo less ($1,371 vs $1,622)
More college-educated — 52.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
2% cheaper overall cost of living than Pearland
Cons
Median income trails Pearland by $32,492/yr
Violent crime (488.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2819.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Pricier housing — median home is $347,000
Key Differences at a Glance
Pearland
Median Income
$32,492
$111,123 vs $78,631/yr
Pearland
Violent Crime
80% lower
95.9 vs 488.8 per 100k
Pearland
Median Home Value
$36k less
$311,100 vs $347,000
Pearland
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
3.2% vs 4.5% unemployment
Raleigh
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 98.0 vs 100.2 (100 = US avg)
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Pearland, TX | Raleigh, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.2⚠ High | 98.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $311,100⚠ High ✓ Lower | $347,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,622⚠ High | $1,371⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $111,123 ✓ Higher | $78,631 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.2% ✓ Lower | 4.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.6 min⚠ High | 23.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.3% | 20.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 43 ✓ Safer | 131⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 25 ✓ Safer | 129⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 69 ✓ Safer | 134⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) | A- (117) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.2:1 | 15.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 47.1% | 52.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 94.8% ✓ Higher | 92.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | PEARLAND ISD | Wake County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 64.6°F ✓ Warmer | 51.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 93.3°F ✓ Warmer | 90.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 53.3" | 49.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 4.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 124,478 | 465,517 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.2 ✓ Older | 34.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 76.6% ✓ Higher | 51.1% |
| Under 18 | 28.0% ✓ More | 20.0% |
| Over 65 | 11.7% ✓ More | 11.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Pearland's cost of living index is 100.2 vs Raleigh's 98.0 (US average = 100).
Raleigh is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Pearland leads 14 of 23 categories. Pearland wins 14 and Raleigh wins 9. 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 Pearland to Raleigh or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($311,100 vs $347,000 median home), income ($111,123 vs $78,631), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Pearland, TX and Raleigh, NC are about 1,061 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.