Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Spokane Valley, WA
VS
Sugar Land, TX
🏆 Sugar Land leads 19 of 23 categories
Spokane Valley
Washington
4
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$66,483
Violent Crime Index
64
Population
103,761
Sugar Land
Texas
19
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.
Spokane Valley, WA
Pros
Rent averages $693/mo less ($1,175 vs $1,868)
Homes cost $80k less ($307,700 vs $387,900)
Violent crime is well below the national average (242.1 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 94°F
Cons
Median income trails Sugar Land by $65,764/yr
Property crime (3515.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.8% vs 5.0%)
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
Sugar Land, TX
Pros
Households earn $65,764 more per year on average
68% less violent crime than Spokane Valley
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 0.8 pts lower (5.0%)
Milder winters — January highs near 64°F vs 38°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,868/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $387,900
Longer commutes — 30.0 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Spokane Valley
Median Home Value
$80k less
$307,700 vs $387,900
Sugar Land
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 100.2 vs 101.0 (100 = US avg)
Sugar Land
Median Income
$65,764
$132,247 vs $66,483/yr
Sugar Land
Violent Crime
68% lower
78.0 vs 242.1 per 100k
Sugar Land
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
5.0% vs 5.8% unemployment
Sugar Land
Summer Heat
7.1°F warmer
July avg high 94.2°F vs 87.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Spokane Valley, WA | Sugar Land, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 101.0⚠ High | 100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $307,700⚠ High ✓ Lower | $387,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,175 ✓ Lower | $1,868⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $66,483 | $132,247 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.4 min ✓ Shorter | 30.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 10.4% | 16.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 105⚠ High | 39 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 64 | 21 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 167⚠ High | 66 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | A (125) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.6:1 | 16.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 25.3% | 61.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 94.2% | 94.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | East Valley School District (Spokane) | FORT BEND ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 37.8°F | 64.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.1°F | 94.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.4" ✓ Drier | 54.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 45.4" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 103,761 | 110,077 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.4 | 42.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.7% | 81.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.7% | 22.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.5% | 18.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Spokane Valley's cost of living index is 101.0 vs Sugar Land's 100.2 (US average = 100).
Sugar Land is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Sugar Land leads 19 of 23 categories. Spokane Valley wins 4 and Sugar Land wins 19. 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 Spokane Valley to Sugar Land or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($307,700 vs $387,900 median home), income ($66,483 vs $132,247), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Spokane Valley, WA and Sugar Land, TX are about 1,697 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.