Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Portland, OR
VS
Sugar Land, TX
🏆 Sugar Land leads 17 of 22 categories
Portland
Oregon
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$85,876
Violent Crime Index
190⚠ High
Population
646,101 ✓ Larger
Sugar Land
Texas
17
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.
Portland, OR
Pros
Rent averages $338/mo less ($1,530 vs $1,868)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 80°F vs 94°F
Cons
Median income trails Sugar Land by $46,371/yr
Pricier housing — median home is $523,100
Violent crime (720.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (5526.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Sugar Land, TX
Pros
89% less violent crime than Portland
Households earn $46,371 more per year on average
Homes cost $135k less ($387,900 vs $523,100)
Violent crime is well below the national average (78.0 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (5.0%)
Milder winters — January highs near 64°F vs 47°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,868/mo
Longer commutes — 30.0 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Sugar Land
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 100.2 vs 106.6 (100 = US avg)
Sugar Land
Median Income
$46,371
$132,247 vs $85,876/yr
Sugar Land
Violent Crime
89% lower
78.0 vs 720.1 per 100k
Sugar Land
Median Home Value
$135k less
$387,900 vs $523,100
Sugar Land
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
5.0% vs 5.6% unemployment
Sugar Land
Summer Heat
13.9°F warmer
July avg high 94.2°F vs 80.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Portland, OR | Sugar Land, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 106.6⚠ High | 100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $523,100⚠ High | $387,900⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,530⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,868⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $85,876 | $132,247 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.8 min ✓ Shorter | 30.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 22.0% ✓ Higher | 16.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 219⚠ High | 39 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 190⚠ High | 21 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 263⚠ High | 66 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (112) | A (125) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.0:1 | 16.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 52.5% | 61.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 93.4% | 94.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Portland SD 1J | FORT BEND ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 46.9°F | 64.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 80.3°F | 94.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.9" ✓ Drier | 54.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.6" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 646,101 ✓ Larger | 110,077 |
| Median Age | 38.3 | 42.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.3% | 81.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.8% | 22.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.0% | 18.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Portland's cost of living index is 106.6 vs Sugar Land's 100.2 (US average = 100).
Sugar Land is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Sugar Land leads 17 of 22 categories. Portland wins 5 and Sugar Land wins 17. 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 Portland to Sugar Land or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($523,100 vs $387,900 median home), income ($85,876 vs $132,247), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Portland, OR and Sugar Land, TX are about 1,830 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.