Head-to-Head · City Comparison
San Antonio, TX
VS
Sugar Land, TX
🏆 Sugar Land leads 15 of 23 categories
San Antonio
Texas
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,593
Violent Crime Index
156⚠ High
Population
1,445,662 ✓ 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.
San Antonio, TX
Pros
Homes cost $190k less ($198,000 vs $387,900)
Rent averages $679/mo less ($1,189 vs $1,868)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.7)
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Sugar Land
Smaller class sizes — 14.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Sugar Land by $72,654/yr
Violent crime (594.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4623.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.9% vs 5.0%)
Sugar Land, TX
Pros
Households earn $72,654 more per year on average
87% less violent crime than San Antonio
More college-educated — 61.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (78.0 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (5.0%)
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 7% higher than San Antonio
Key Differences at a Glance
San Antonio
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 93.7 vs 100.2 (100 = US avg)
San Antonio
Median Home Value
$190k less
$198,000 vs $387,900
Sugar Land
Median Income
$72,654
$132,247 vs $59,593/yr
Sugar Land
Violent Crime
87% lower
78.0 vs 594.1 per 100k
Sugar Land
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
5.0% vs 5.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | San Antonio, TX | Sugar Land, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.7 ✓ Cheaper | 100.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $198,000 ✓ Lower | $387,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,189 ✓ Lower | $1,868⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,593 | $132,247 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.5 min ✓ Shorter | 30.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% | 16.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 182⚠ High | 39 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 156⚠ High | 21 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 220⚠ High | 66 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (97) | A (125) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.7% | 61.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 83.8% | 94.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | NORTHSIDE ISD | FORT BEND ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 63.2°F | 64.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 94.0°F | 94.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 34.0" ✓ Drier | 54.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 1,445,662 ✓ Larger | 110,077 |
| Median Age | 34.1 | 42.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.9% | 81.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.1% ✓ More | 22.6% |
| Over 65 | 12.8% | 18.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
San Antonio's cost of living index is 93.7 vs Sugar Land's 100.2 (US average = 100).
San Antonio is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Sugar Land leads 15 of 23 categories. San Antonio 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 San Antonio to Sugar Land or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($198,000 vs $387,900 median home), income ($59,593 vs $132,247), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
San Antonio, TX and Sugar Land, TX are about 174 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.