Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Springfield, MA
VS
Sugar Land, TX
🏆 Sugar Land leads 15 of 23 categories
Springfield
Massachusetts
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$47,677
Violent Crime Index
235⚠ High
Population
155,305 ✓ Larger
Sugar Land
Texas
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High
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.
Springfield, MA
Pros
Homes cost $189k less ($198,500 vs $387,900)
Rent averages $821/mo less ($1,047 vs $1,868)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 94°F
Smaller class sizes — 11.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Sugar Land by $84,570/yr
Violent crime (891.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2835.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.7% vs 5.0%)
Sugar Land, TX
Pros
Households earn $84,570 more per year on average
91% less violent crime than Springfield
More college-educated — 61.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.7 pts lower (5.0%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (78.0 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 64°F vs 35°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $387,900
Higher rents — median is $1,868/mo
Longer commutes — 30.0 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Springfield
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 98.4 vs 100.2 (100 = US avg)
Springfield
Median Home Value
$189k less
$198,500 vs $387,900
Sugar Land
Median Income
$84,570
$132,247 vs $47,677/yr
Sugar Land
Violent Crime
91% lower
78.0 vs 891.4 per 100k
Sugar Land
Unemployment
3.7 pp lower
5.0% vs 8.7% unemployment
Sugar Land
Summer Heat
9.3°F warmer
July avg high 94.2°F vs 84.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Springfield, MA | Sugar Land, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.4 ✓ Cheaper | 100.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $198,500 ✓ Lower | $387,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,047 ✓ Lower | $1,868⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $47,677 | $132,247 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.7%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.0 min ✓ Shorter | 30.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.4% | 16.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 195⚠ High | 39 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 235⚠ High | 21 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 135⚠ High | 66 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (96) | A (125) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.0% | 61.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 79.6% | 94.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Springfield | FORT BEND ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 34.8°F | 64.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.9°F | 94.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.3" ✓ Drier | 54.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 51.7" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 155,305 ✓ Larger | 110,077 |
| Median Age | 33.4 | 42.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.8% | 81.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.4% ✓ More | 22.6% |
| Over 65 | 13.0% | 18.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Springfield's cost of living index is 98.4 vs Sugar Land's 100.2 (US average = 100).
Springfield is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Sugar Land leads 15 of 23 categories. Springfield wins 8 and Sugar Land wins 15. 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 Springfield to Sugar Land or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($198,500 vs $387,900 median home), income ($47,677 vs $132,247), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Springfield, MA and Sugar Land, TX are about 1,548 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.