Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Scottsdale, AZ
VS
Sugar Land, TX
🏆 Sugar Land leads 11 of 21 categories
Scottsdale
Arizona
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$104,197
Violent Crime Index
40
Population
240,537 ✓ Larger
Sugar Land
Texas
11
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.
Scottsdale, AZ
Pros
Violent crime is well below the national average (152.5 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (3.5%)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Rent averages $100/mo less ($1,768 vs $1,868)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $651,800
Median income trails Sugar Land by $28,050/yr
Hot summers — July highs average 99°F
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Sugar Land
Sugar Land, TX
Pros
Homes cost $264k less ($387,900 vs $651,800)
49% less violent crime than Scottsdale
Households earn $28,050 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (78.0 vs 380/100k)
Cooler summers — July highs near 94°F vs 99°F
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Scottsdale
Cons
Higher unemployment (5.0% vs 3.5%)
Longer commutes — 30.0 min average each way
Higher rents — median is $1,868/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Scottsdale
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
3.5% vs 5.0% unemployment
Scottsdale
Summer Heat
5.2°F warmer
July avg high 99.4°F vs 94.2°F
Sugar Land
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 100.2 vs 104.0 (100 = US avg)
Sugar Land
Median Income
$28,050
$132,247 vs $104,197/yr
Sugar Land
Violent Crime
49% lower
78.0 vs 152.5 per 100k
Sugar Land
Median Home Value
$264k less
$387,900 vs $651,800
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Scottsdale, AZ | Sugar Land, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.0⚠ High | 100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $651,800⚠ High | $387,900⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,768⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,868⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $104,197 | $132,247 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.5% ✓ Lower | 5.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.4 min ✓ Shorter | 30.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 26.5% ✓ Higher | 16.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 60 | 39 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 40 | 21 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 89 | 66 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (116) | A (125) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.3:1 | 16.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 61.3% | 61.3% |
| High School or Higher | 97.3% ✓ Higher | 94.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Scottsdale Unified District (4240) | FORT BEND ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 63.5°F | 64.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 99.4°F ✓ Warmer | 94.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.2" ✓ Drier | 54.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 240,537 ✓ Larger | 110,077 |
| Median Age | 48.4 ✓ Older | 42.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 67.0% | 81.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 14.3% | 22.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 25.1% ✓ More | 18.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Scottsdale's cost of living index is 104.0 vs Sugar Land's 100.2 (US average = 100).
Sugar Land is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Sugar Land leads 11 of 21 categories. Scottsdale wins 10 and Sugar Land wins 11. 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 Scottsdale to Sugar Land or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($651,800 vs $387,900 median home), income ($104,197 vs $132,247), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Scottsdale, AZ and Sugar Land, TX are about 994 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.