Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Pearland, TX
VS
Sacramento, CA
🏆 Pearland leads 15 of 22 categories
Pearland
Texas
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$111,123 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
25 ✓ Safer
Population
124,478
Sacramento
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$78,954
Violent Crime Index
199⚠ High
Population
523,600 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Pearland, TX
Pros
87% less violent crime than Sacramento
Homes cost $139k less ($311,100 vs $450,500)
Households earn $32,169 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.1 pts lower (3.2%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (95.9 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 47.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Longer commutes — 33.6 min average each way
Sacramento, CA
Pros
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $450,500
Median income trails Pearland by $32,169/yr
Violent crime (754.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2547.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Pearland
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 100.2 vs 108.9 (100 = US avg)
Pearland
Median Income
$32,169
$111,123 vs $78,954/yr
Pearland
Violent Crime
87% lower
95.9 vs 754.9 per 100k
Pearland
Median Home Value
$139k less
$311,100 vs $450,500
Pearland
Unemployment
3.1 pp lower
3.2% vs 6.3% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Pearland, TX | Sacramento, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 108.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $311,100⚠ High ✓ Lower | $450,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,622⚠ High | $1,592⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $111,123 ✓ Higher | $78,954 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.2% ✓ Lower | 6.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.6 min⚠ High | 25.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.3% | 15.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 43 ✓ Safer | 168⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 25 ✓ Safer | 199⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 69 ✓ Safer | 121⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) ✓ Better | B- (93) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 47.1% ✓ Higher | 35.8% |
| High School or Higher | 94.8% ✓ Higher | 86.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | PEARLAND ISD | Sacramento City Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 64.6°F ✓ Warmer | 56.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 93.3°F | 94.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 53.3" | 20.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 124,478 | 523,600 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.2 ✓ Older | 35.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 76.6% ✓ Higher | 50.7% |
| Under 18 | 28.0% ✓ More | 22.0% |
| Over 65 | 11.7% | 13.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Pearland's cost of living index is 100.2 vs Sacramento's 108.9 (US average = 100).
Pearland is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Pearland leads 15 of 22 categories. Pearland wins 15 and Sacramento wins 7. 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 Sacramento or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($311,100 vs $450,500 median home), income ($111,123 vs $78,954), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Pearland, TX and Sacramento, CA are about 1,614 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.