Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Plano, TX
VS
Sugar Land, TX
🏆 Sugar Land leads 14 of 23 categories
Plano
Texas
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$105,679
Violent Crime Index
40
Population
284,948 ✓ Larger
Sugar Land
Texas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
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.
Plano, TX
Pros
Violent crime is well below the national average (151.6 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (4.4%)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Rent averages $169/mo less ($1,699 vs $1,868)
Smaller class sizes — 13.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Sugar Land by $26,568/yr
Pricier housing — median home is $412,500
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Sugar Land
Sugar Land, TX
Pros
49% less violent crime than Plano
Households earn $26,568 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (78.0 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 64°F vs 56°F
Homes cost $25k less ($387,900 vs $412,500)
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Plano
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,868/mo
Longer commutes — 30.0 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Plano
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
4.4% vs 5.0% unemployment
Sugar Land
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 100.2 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Sugar Land
Median Income
$26,568
$132,247 vs $105,679/yr
Sugar Land
Violent Crime
49% lower
78.0 vs 151.6 per 100k
Sugar Land
Median Home Value
$25k less
$387,900 vs $412,500
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Plano, TX | Sugar Land, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High | 100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $412,500⚠ High | $387,900⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,699⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,868⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $105,679 | $132,247 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.8 min ✓ Shorter | 30.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 22.3% ✓ Higher | 16.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 52 | 39 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 40 | 21 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 | 66 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A+ (134) ✓ Better | A (125) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 58.4% | 61.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 93.6% | 94.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | PLANO ISD | FORT BEND ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.9°F | 64.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer | 94.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.7" ✓ Drier | 54.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.6" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 284,948 ✓ Larger | 110,077 |
| Median Age | 38.9 | 42.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.7% | 81.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.7% | 22.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.7% | 18.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Plano's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Sugar Land's 100.2 (US average = 100).
Sugar Land is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Sugar Land leads 14 of 23 categories. Plano wins 9 and Sugar Land wins 14. 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 Plano to Sugar Land or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($412,500 vs $387,900 median home), income ($105,679 vs $132,247), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Plano, TX and Sugar Land, TX are about 248 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.