Head-to-Head · City Comparison
South Gate, CA
VS
Sugar Land, TX
🏆 Sugar Land leads 18 of 22 categories
South Gate
California
4
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$67,188
Violent Crime Index
138⚠ High
Population
92,381
Sugar Land
Texas
18
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.
South Gate, CA
Pros
Rent averages $468/mo less ($1,400 vs $1,868)
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 94°F
Cons
Median income trails Sugar Land by $65,059/yr
Pricier housing — median home is $578,900
Violent crime (525.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Sugar Land, TX
Pros
Households earn $65,059 more per year on average
85% less violent crime than South Gate
Homes cost $191k less ($387,900 vs $578,900)
More college-educated — 61.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.9 pts lower (5.0%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (78.0 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,868/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Sugar Land
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 100.2 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Sugar Land
Median Income
$65,059
$132,247 vs $67,188/yr
Sugar Land
Violent Crime
85% lower
78.0 vs 525.6 per 100k
Sugar Land
Median Home Value
$191k less
$387,900 vs $578,900
Sugar Land
Unemployment
2.9 pp lower
5.0% vs 7.9% unemployment
Sugar Land
Summer Heat
12.2°F warmer
July avg high 94.2°F vs 82.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | South Gate, CA | Sugar Land, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $578,900⚠ High | $387,900⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,400⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,868⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $67,188 | $132,247 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.9%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 32.3 min⚠ High | 30.0 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.2% | 16.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 152⚠ High | 39 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 138⚠ High | 21 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 171⚠ High | 66 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (72) | A (125) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.0:1 | 16.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 11.5% | 61.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 58.8% | 94.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Westbrook Academy District | FORT BEND ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 68.0°F ✓ Warmer | 64.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 82.0°F | 94.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.2" ✓ Drier | 54.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 92,381 | 110,077 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.7 | 42.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.8% | 81.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.8% ✓ More | 22.6% |
| Over 65 | 11.3% | 18.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
South Gate's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Sugar Land's 100.2 (US average = 100).
Sugar Land is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Sugar Land leads 18 of 22 categories. South Gate wins 4 and Sugar Land wins 18. 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 South Gate to Sugar Land or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($578,900 vs $387,900 median home), income ($67,188 vs $132,247), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
South Gate, CA and Sugar Land, TX are about 1,356 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.