Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Seattle, WA
VS
Sugar Land, TX
🏆 Sugar Land leads 16 of 23 categories
Seattle
Washington
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$116,068
Violent Crime Index
204⚠ High
Population
734,603 ✓ Larger
Sugar Land
Texas
16
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.
Seattle, WA
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (4.2%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 94°F
More college-educated — 66.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $879,900
Violent crime (775.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
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
Homes cost $492k less ($387,900 vs $879,900)
90% less violent crime than Seattle
Violent crime is well below the national average (78.0 vs 380/100k)
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Seattle
Households earn $16,179 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 64°F vs 47°F
Cons
Higher unemployment (5.0% vs 4.2%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Seattle
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
$16,179
$132,247 vs $116,068/yr
Sugar Land
Violent Crime
90% lower
78.0 vs 775.1 per 100k
Sugar Land
Median Home Value
$492k less
$387,900 vs $879,900
Sugar Land
Summer Heat
17.7°F warmer
July avg high 94.2°F vs 76.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Seattle, 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 | $879,900⚠ High | $387,900⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,945⚠ High | $1,868⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $116,068 | $132,247 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.2 min ✓ Shorter | 30.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 27.0% ✓ Higher | 16.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 218⚠ High | 39 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 204⚠ High | 21 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 238⚠ High | 66 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (112) | A (125) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.5:1 | 16.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 66.7% ✓ Higher | 61.3% |
| High School or Higher | 95.6% ✓ Higher | 94.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Seattle School District No. 1 | FORT BEND ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.4°F | 64.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 76.5°F | 94.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.5" ✓ Drier | 54.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.8" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 734,603 ✓ Larger | 110,077 |
| Median Age | 35.4 | 42.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.5% | 81.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 14.0% | 22.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.8% | 18.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Seattle'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 16 of 23 categories. Seattle wins 7 and Sugar Land wins 16. 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 Seattle to Sugar Land or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($879,900 vs $387,900 median home), income ($116,068 vs $132,247), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Seattle, WA and Sugar Land, TX are about 1,889 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.