Head-to-Head · City Comparison
San Jose, CA
VS
Sugar Land, TX
🏆 Sugar Land leads 17 of 22 categories
San Jose
California
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$136,010 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
160⚠ High
Population
1,001,176 ✓ Larger
Sugar Land
Texas
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$132,247
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 Jose, CA
Pros
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 94°F
Households earn $3,763 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,149,600
Higher rents — median is $2,526/mo
Violent crime (606.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.9)
Sugar Land, TX
Pros
Homes cost $762k less ($387,900 vs $1,149,600)
87% less violent crime than San Jose
Rent averages $658/mo less ($1,868 vs $2,526)
Violent crime is well below the national average (78.0 vs 380/100k)
13% cheaper overall cost of living than San Jose
More college-educated — 61.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails San Jose by $3,763/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
San Jose
Median Income
$3,763
$136,010 vs $132,247/yr
Sugar Land
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 100.2 vs 112.9 (100 = US avg)
Sugar Land
Violent Crime
87% lower
78.0 vs 606.8 per 100k
Sugar Land
Median Home Value
$762k less
$387,900 vs $1,149,600
Sugar Land
Summer Heat
12.0°F warmer
July avg high 94.2°F vs 82.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | San Jose, CA | Sugar Land, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 112.9⚠ High | 100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $1,149,600⚠ High | $387,900⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,526⚠ High | $1,868⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $136,010 ✓ Higher | $132,247 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.8 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 30.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 16.3% | 16.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 145⚠ High | 39 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 160⚠ High | 21 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 123⚠ High | 66 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) | A (125) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.8:1 | 16.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.0% | 61.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 85.5% | 94.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | San Jose Unified | FORT BEND ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 59.0°F | 64.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.2°F | 94.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 18.8" ✓ Drier | 54.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 1,001,176 ✓ Larger | 110,077 |
| Median Age | 37.8 | 42.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.8% | 81.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.2% | 22.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.7% | 18.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
San Jose's cost of living index is 112.9 vs Sugar Land's 100.2 (US average = 100).
Sugar Land is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Sugar Land leads 17 of 22 categories. San Jose 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 San Jose to Sugar Land or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($1,149,600 vs $387,900 median home), income ($136,010 vs $132,247), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
San Jose, CA and Sugar Land, TX are about 1,594 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.