Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Renton, WA
VS
Sugar Land, TX
🏆 Sugar Land leads 20 of 23 categories
Renton
Washington
3
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$92,292
Violent Crime Index
89
Population
105,355
Sugar Land
Texas
20
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$132,247 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
21 ✓ Safer
Population
110,077 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Renton, WA
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (4.2%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 94°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $576,800
Median income trails Sugar Land by $39,955/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Sugar Land
Sugar Land, TX
Pros
77% less violent crime than Renton
Homes cost $189k less ($387,900 vs $576,800)
Households earn $39,955 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (78.0 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 61.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Renton
Cons
Higher unemployment (5.0% vs 4.2%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Renton
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
4.2% vs 5.0% unemployment
Sugar Land
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 100.2 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Sugar Land
Median Income
$39,955
$132,247 vs $92,292/yr
Sugar Land
Violent Crime
77% lower
78.0 vs 339.2 per 100k
Sugar Land
Median Home Value
$189k less
$387,900 vs $576,800
Sugar Land
Summer Heat
17.0°F warmer
July avg high 94.2°F vs 77.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Renton, WA | Sugar Land, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.0⚠ High | 100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $576,800⚠ High | $387,900⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,864⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,868⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $92,292 | $132,247 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.8 min⚠ High | 30.0 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.7% | 16.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 117⚠ High | 39 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 89 | 21 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 158⚠ High | 66 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | A (125) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.5:1 | 16.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.9% | 61.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.9% | 94.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Renton School District | FORT BEND ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.0°F | 64.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 77.2°F | 94.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.0" ✓ Drier | 54.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 105,355 | 110,077 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.1 | 42.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.6% | 81.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.6% | 22.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.4% | 18.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Renton's cost of living index is 113.0 vs Sugar Land's 100.2 (US average = 100).
Sugar Land is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Sugar Land leads 20 of 23 categories. Renton wins 3 and Sugar Land wins 20. 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 Renton to Sugar Land or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($576,800 vs $387,900 median home), income ($92,292 vs $132,247), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Renton, WA and Sugar Land, TX are about 1,877 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.