Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Suffolk, VA
VS
Sugar Land, TX
🏆 Sugar Land leads 16 of 23 categories
Suffolk
Virginia
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$87,758
Violent Crime Index
98
Population
94,856
Sugar Land
Texas
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High
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.
Suffolk, VA
Pros
Rent averages $492/mo less ($1,376 vs $1,868)
Homes cost $74k less ($314,400 vs $387,900)
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 94°F
Smaller class sizes — 14.5:1 student-teacher ratio
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Sugar Land
Cons
Median income trails Sugar Land by $44,489/yr
Higher unemployment (6.3% vs 5.0%)
Sugar Land, TX
Pros
79% less violent crime than Suffolk
Households earn $44,489 more per year on average
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 1.3 pts lower (5.0%)
Milder winters — January highs near 64°F vs 49°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,868/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $387,900
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Suffolk
Key Differences at a Glance
Suffolk
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 100.2 (100 = US avg)
Suffolk
Median Home Value
$74k less
$314,400 vs $387,900
Sugar Land
Median Income
$44,489
$132,247 vs $87,758/yr
Sugar Land
Violent Crime
79% lower
78.0 vs 371.0 per 100k
Sugar Land
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
5.0% vs 6.3% unemployment
Sugar Land
Summer Heat
7.4°F warmer
July avg high 94.2°F vs 86.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Suffolk, VA | Sugar Land, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper | 100.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $314,400⚠ High ✓ Lower | $387,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,376⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,868⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $87,758 | $132,247 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.3%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.6 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 30.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.9% | 16.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 89 | 39 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 98 | 21 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 75 | 66 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (99) | A (125) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.1% | 61.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 91.2% | 94.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Suffolk City Public Schools | FORT BEND ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 49.3°F | 64.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.8°F | 94.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.8" ✓ Drier | 54.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 5.8" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 94,856 | 110,077 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.5 | 42.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 70.4% | 81.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.6% ✓ More | 22.6% |
| Over 65 | 14.8% | 18.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Suffolk's cost of living index is 97.4 vs Sugar Land's 100.2 (US average = 100).
Suffolk is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Sugar Land leads 16 of 23 categories. Suffolk 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 Suffolk to Sugar Land or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($314,400 vs $387,900 median home), income ($87,758 vs $132,247), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Suffolk, VA and Sugar Land, TX are about 1,201 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.