Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Pearland, TX
VS
Tampa, FL
🏆 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
Tampa
Florida
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$66,802
Violent Crime Index
117⚠ High
Population
388,768 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Pearland, TX
Pros
Households earn $44,321 more per year on average
78% less violent crime than Tampa
Violent crime is well below the national average (95.9 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.0 pts lower (3.2%)
More college-educated — 47.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Homes cost $22k less ($311,100 vs $333,200)
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,622/mo
Longer commutes — 33.6 min average each way
Tampa, FL
Pros
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Rent averages $200/mo less ($1,422 vs $1,622)
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 65°F
Cons
Median income trails Pearland by $44,321/yr
Violent crime (444.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (5.2% vs 3.2%)
Pricier housing — median home is $333,200
Key Differences at a Glance
Pearland
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 100.2 vs 103.4 (100 = US avg)
Pearland
Median Income
$44,321
$111,123 vs $66,802/yr
Pearland
Violent Crime
78% lower
95.9 vs 444.6 per 100k
Pearland
Median Home Value
$22k less
$311,100 vs $333,200
Pearland
Unemployment
2.0 pp lower
3.2% vs 5.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Pearland, TX | Tampa, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 103.4⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $311,100⚠ High ✓ Lower | $333,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,622⚠ High | $1,422⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $111,123 ✓ Higher | $66,802 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.2% ✓ Lower | 5.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.6 min⚠ High | 24.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.3% | 16.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 43 ✓ Safer | 98 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 25 ✓ Safer | 117⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 69 ✓ Safer | 70 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) ✓ Better | B (103) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 47.1% ✓ Higher | 43.3% |
| High School or Higher | 94.8% ✓ Higher | 89.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | PEARLAND ISD | HILLSBOROUGH |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 64.6°F | 71.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 93.3°F ✓ Warmer | 91.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 53.3" | 49.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 124,478 | 388,768 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.2 ✓ Older | 35.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 76.6% ✓ Higher | 50.5% |
| Under 18 | 28.0% ✓ More | 20.8% |
| Over 65 | 11.7% | 13.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Pearland's cost of living index is 100.2 vs Tampa's 103.4 (US average = 100).
Pearland is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Pearland leads 15 of 22 categories. Pearland wins 15 and Tampa 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 Tampa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($311,100 vs $333,200 median home), income ($111,123 vs $66,802), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Pearland, TX and Tampa, FL are about 785 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.