Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Pittsburgh, PA
VS
Sugar Land, TX
🏆 Sugar Land leads 15 of 23 categories
Pittsburgh
Pennsylvania
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,187
Violent Crime Index
112⚠ High
Population
303,843 ✓ Larger
Sugar Land
Texas
15
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.
Pittsburgh, PA
Pros
Homes cost $216k less ($171,800 vs $387,900)
Rent averages $715/mo less ($1,153 vs $1,868)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.4)
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 94°F
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Sugar Land
Cons
Median income trails Sugar Land by $72,060/yr
Higher unemployment (5.7% vs 5.0%)
Snowy winters — about 44" of snow per year
Sugar Land, TX
Pros
Households earn $72,060 more per year on average
82% less violent crime than Pittsburgh
Violent crime is well below the national average (78.0 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 64°F vs 37°F
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (5.0%)
More college-educated — 61.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $387,900
Higher rents — median is $1,868/mo
Longer commutes — 30.0 min average each way
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Pittsburgh
Key Differences at a Glance
Pittsburgh
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 94.4 vs 100.2 (100 = US avg)
Pittsburgh
Median Home Value
$216k less
$171,800 vs $387,900
Sugar Land
Median Income
$72,060
$132,247 vs $60,187/yr
Sugar Land
Violent Crime
82% lower
78.0 vs 427.2 per 100k
Sugar Land
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
5.0% vs 5.7% unemployment
Sugar Land
Summer Heat
11.2°F warmer
July avg high 94.2°F vs 83.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Pittsburgh, PA | Sugar Land, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.4 ✓ Cheaper | 100.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $171,800 ✓ Lower | $387,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,153 ✓ Lower | $1,868⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $60,187 | $132,247 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.7%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.4 min ✓ Shorter | 30.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 17.5% ✓ Higher | 16.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 111⚠ High | 39 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 112⚠ High | 21 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 109⚠ High | 66 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) | A (125) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.7% | 61.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 93.9% | 94.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Pittsburgh SD | FORT BEND ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.6°F | 64.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.0°F | 94.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.3" ✓ Drier | 54.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 44.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 303,843 ✓ Larger | 110,077 |
| Median Age | 33.5 | 42.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.4% | 81.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 14.6% | 22.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.1% | 18.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Pittsburgh's cost of living index is 94.4 vs Sugar Land's 100.2 (US average = 100).
Pittsburgh is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Sugar Land leads 15 of 23 categories. Pittsburgh wins 8 and Sugar Land wins 15. 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 Pittsburgh to Sugar Land or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($171,800 vs $387,900 median home), income ($60,187 vs $132,247), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Pittsburgh, PA and Sugar Land, TX are about 1,157 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.