Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Pearland, TX
VS
West Palm Beach, FL
🏆 Pearland leads 16 of 22 categories
Pearland
Texas
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$111,123 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
25 ✓ Safer
Population
124,478 ✓ Larger
West Palm Beach
Florida
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,044
Violent Crime Index
152⚠ High
Population
117,588
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Pearland, TX
Pros
Households earn $47,079 more per year on average
83% less violent crime than West Palm Beach
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.0 pts lower (3.2%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (95.9 vs 380/100k)
12% cheaper overall cost of living than West Palm Beach
More college-educated — 47.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Longer commutes — 33.6 min average each way
West Palm Beach, FL
Pros
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 75°F vs 65°F
Cons
Median income trails Pearland by $47,079/yr
Violent crime (575.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Pearland
Key Differences at a Glance
Pearland
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 100.2 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
Pearland
Median Income
$47,079
$111,123 vs $64,044/yr
Pearland
Violent Crime
83% lower
95.9 vs 575.8 per 100k
Pearland
Median Home Value
$14k less
$311,100 vs $324,800
Pearland
Unemployment
3.0 pp lower
3.2% vs 6.2% unemployment
Pearland
Summer Heat
3.3°F warmer
July avg high 93.3°F vs 90.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Pearland, TX | West Palm Beach, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 111.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $311,100⚠ High ✓ Lower | $324,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,622⚠ High | $1,614⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $111,123 ✓ Higher | $64,044 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.2% ✓ Lower | 6.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.6 min⚠ High | 23.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.3% | 11.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 43 ✓ Safer | 132⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 25 ✓ Safer | 152⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 69 ✓ Safer | 102⚠ High |
| 🎓 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 | 16.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 47.1% ✓ Higher | 37.5% |
| High School or Higher | 94.8% ✓ Higher | 86.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | PEARLAND ISD | PALM BEACH |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 64.6°F | 74.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 93.3°F ✓ Warmer | 90.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 53.3" ✓ Drier | 61.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 124,478 ✓ Larger | 117,588 |
| Median Age | 36.2 | 40.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 76.6% ✓ Higher | 49.8% |
| Under 18 | 28.0% ✓ More | 17.6% |
| Over 65 | 11.7% | 19.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Pearland's cost of living index is 100.2 vs West Palm Beach's 111.8 (US average = 100).
Pearland is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Pearland leads 16 of 22 categories. Pearland wins 16 and West Palm Beach wins 6. 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 West Palm Beach or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($311,100 vs $324,800 median home), income ($111,123 vs $64,044), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Pearland, TX and West Palm Beach, FL are about 945 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.