Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Sugar Land, TX
VS
Washington, DC
🏆 Sugar Land leads 17 of 23 categories
Sugar Land
Texas
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$132,247 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
21 ✓ Safer
Population
110,077
Washington
District of Columbia
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$101,722
Violent Crime Index
244⚠ High
Population
670,587 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Sugar Land, TX
Pros
Homes cost $317k less ($387,900 vs $705,000)
92% less violent crime than Washington
Households earn $30,525 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.1 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 45°F
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Washington, DC
Pros
Smaller class sizes — 10.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $705,000
Violent crime (925.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Sugar Land by $30,525/yr
Property crime (3588.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Sugar Land
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 100.2 vs 108.6 (100 = US avg)
Sugar Land
Median Income
$30,525
$132,247 vs $101,722/yr
Sugar Land
Violent Crime
92% lower
78.0 vs 925.9 per 100k
Sugar Land
Median Home Value
$317k less
$387,900 vs $705,000
Sugar Land
Unemployment
2.1 pp lower
5.0% vs 7.1% unemployment
Sugar Land
Summer Heat
4.4°F warmer
July avg high 94.2°F vs 89.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Sugar Land, TX | Washington, DC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 108.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $387,900⚠ High ✓ Lower | $705,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,868⚠ High | $1,817⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $132,247 ✓ Higher | $101,722 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.0 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 30.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 16.8% | 25.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 39 ✓ Safer | 215⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 21 ✓ Safer | 244⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 66 ✓ Safer | 171⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (125) ✓ Better | A (119) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.0:1 | 10.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 61.3% | 62.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 94.9% ✓ Higher | 92.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | FORT BEND ISD | District of Columbia Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 64.1°F ✓ Warmer | 44.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.2°F ✓ Warmer | 89.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 54.2" | 45.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 9.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 110,077 | 670,587 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 42.5 ✓ Older | 34.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 81.2% ✓ Higher | 41.4% |
| Under 18 | 22.6% ✓ More | 18.5% |
| Over 65 | 18.1% ✓ More | 12.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Sugar Land's cost of living index is 100.2 vs Washington's 108.6 (US average = 100).
Sugar Land is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Sugar Land leads 17 of 23 categories. Sugar Land wins 17 and Washington wins 6. 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 Sugar Land to Washington or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($387,900 vs $705,000 median home), income ($132,247 vs $101,722), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Sugar Land, TX and Washington, DC are about 1,239 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.