Fort Lauderdale FL vs Sugar Land TX — Cost of Living, Crime & Income Comparison 2026
Updated May 2026 · Source: US Census ACS 5-Year (2023), FBI CDE (2023), BLS OEWS (2024)
Fort Lauderdale, FL
Florida · Population: 183,032
- Median HH Income$79,935
- Median Home Price$510,297
- Unemployment5.3%
- Bachelor's+39.8%
Sugar Land, TX
Texas · Population: 109,735
- Median HH Income$137,511
- Median Home Price$449,058
- Unemployment4.5%
- Bachelor's+62.4%
Detailed Comparison
Demographics
Population
Fort Lauderdale
183,032
Fort Lauderdale +
Sugar Land
109,735
Pop. Density / sq mi
Lower = more space
Fort Lauderdale
N/A
Sugar Land
N/A
Median Age
Fort Lauderdale
42.9
Sugar Land
42.5
Sugar Land +
Foreign Born
Fort Lauderdale
26.7%
Sugar Land
35.3%
Sugar Land +
White
Fort Lauderdale
51.3%
Fort Lauderdale +
Sugar Land
40.6%
Black
Fort Lauderdale
28.8%
Fort Lauderdale +
Sugar Land
7.7%
Asian
Fort Lauderdale
1.6%
Sugar Land
39.5%
Sugar Land +
Hispanic
Fort Lauderdale
20.1%
Fort Lauderdale +
Sugar Land
12.3%
Spanish at Home
Fort Lauderdale
N/A
Sugar Land
N/A
| Metric | Fort Lauderdale, FL | Sugar Land, TX | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 183,032 | 109,735 | Fort Lauderdale + |
| Pop. Density / sq miLower = more space | N/A | N/A | - |
| Median Age | 42.9 | 42.5 | Sugar Land + |
| Foreign Born | 26.7% | 35.3% | Sugar Land + |
| White | 51.3% | 40.6% | Fort Lauderdale + |
| Black | 28.8% | 7.7% | Fort Lauderdale + |
| Asian | 1.6% | 39.5% | Sugar Land + |
| Hispanic | 20.1% | 12.3% | Fort Lauderdale + |
| Spanish at Home | N/A | N/A | - |
Economy
Median HH Income
Fort Lauderdale
$79,935
Sugar Land
$137,511
Sugar Land +
Per Capita Income
Fort Lauderdale
$57,845
Sugar Land
$60,258
Sugar Land +
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)
BEA MSA-level
Fort Lauderdale
$65,328
Fort Lauderdale +
Sugar Land
$63,758
Unemployment Rate
Fort Lauderdale
5.3%
Sugar Land
4.5%
Sugar Land +
Poverty Rate
Fort Lauderdale
15.2%
Sugar Land
5.1%
Sugar Land +
Bachelor's Degree+
Fort Lauderdale
39.8%
Sugar Land
62.4%
Sugar Land +
| Metric | Fort Lauderdale, FL | Sugar Land, TX | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median HH Income | $79,935 | $137,511 | Sugar Land + |
| Per Capita Income | $57,845 | $60,258 | Sugar Land + |
| Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)BEA MSA-level | $65,328 | $63,758 | Fort Lauderdale + |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.3% | 4.5% | Sugar Land + |
| Poverty Rate | 15.2% | 5.1% | Sugar Land + |
| Bachelor's Degree+ | 39.8% | 62.4% | Sugar Land + |
Housing
Median Home Value
Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS
Fort Lauderdale
$510,297
Sugar Land
$449,058
Sugar Land +
Homeownership Rate
Fort Lauderdale
53.8%
Sugar Land
80.1%
Sugar Land +
| Metric | Fort Lauderdale, FL | Sugar Land, TX | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home ValueZillow ZHVI / Census ACS | $510,297 | $449,058 | Sugar Land + |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.8% | 80.1% | Sugar Land + |
Safety
Violent Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Fort Lauderdale
324
Fort Lauderdale +
Sugar Land
442
Property Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Fort Lauderdale
1453
Fort Lauderdale +
Sugar Land
2339
| Metric | Fort Lauderdale, FL | Sugar Land, TX | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.) | 324 | 442 | Fort Lauderdale + |
| Property Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.) | 1453 | 2339 | Fort Lauderdale + |
Health
Obesity Rate
CDC PLACES
Fort Lauderdale
30.3%
Sugar Land
24.8%
Sugar Land +
Diabetes Rate
CDC PLACES
Fort Lauderdale
12.8%
Sugar Land
12.2%
Sugar Land +
Poor Mental Health
CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month
Fort Lauderdale
16.2%
Sugar Land
12.2%
Sugar Land +
No Health Insurance
CDC PLACES
Fort Lauderdale
14.7%
Sugar Land
8.5%
Sugar Land +
Binge Drinking
CDC PLACES
Fort Lauderdale
14.9%
Sugar Land
13.6%
Sugar Land +
Current Smokers
CDC PLACES
Fort Lauderdale
13.0%
Sugar Land
8.2%
Sugar Land +
| Metric | Fort Lauderdale, FL | Sugar Land, TX | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Obesity RateCDC PLACES | 30.3% | 24.8% | Sugar Land + |
| Diabetes RateCDC PLACES | 12.8% | 12.2% | Sugar Land + |
| Poor Mental HealthCDC PLACES — 14+ days/month | 16.2% | 12.2% | Sugar Land + |
| No Health InsuranceCDC PLACES | 14.7% | 8.5% | Sugar Land + |
| Binge DrinkingCDC PLACES | 14.9% | 13.6% | Sugar Land + |
| Current SmokersCDC PLACES | 13.0% | 8.2% | Sugar Land + |
Climate
Avg Annual Temp
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Fort Lauderdale
75.5°F
Sugar Land
71.3°F
Sugar Land +
Annual Precipitation
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Fort Lauderdale
66.5 in
Sugar Land
50.4 in
Sugar Land +
| Metric | Fort Lauderdale, FL | Sugar Land, TX | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Annual TempNOAA 1991–2020 normal | 75.5°F | 71.3°F | Sugar Land + |
| Annual PrecipitationNOAA 1991–2020 normal | 66.5 in | 50.4 in | Sugar Land + |
Air Quality
PM2.5 Annual Avg
EPA AQS (state-level est.)
Fort Lauderdale
7.2 µg/m³
Fort Lauderdale +
Sugar Land
9.2 µg/m³
Good Air Days
AQI ≤ 50
Fort Lauderdale
75.0%
Fort Lauderdale +
Sugar Land
55.0%
| Metric | Fort Lauderdale, FL | Sugar Land, TX | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| PM2.5 Annual AvgEPA AQS (state-level est.) | 7.2 µg/m³ | 9.2 µg/m³ | Fort Lauderdale + |
| Good Air DaysAQI ≤ 50 | 75.0% | 55.0% | Fort Lauderdale + |
Commute
Mean Commute Time
Census ACS
Fort Lauderdale
28.5 min
Fort Lauderdale +
Sugar Land
31.6 min
| Metric | Fort Lauderdale, FL | Sugar Land, TX | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mean Commute TimeCensus ACS | 28.5 min | 31.6 min | Fort Lauderdale + |
Which City is Right for You?
Sugar Land leads in median household income at $137,511, while sugar Land offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $449,058. On public safety, Fort Lauderdale is safer with a violent crime rate of 324 per 100,000 residents, compared to 442 in Sugar Land. Sugar Land has a lower unemployment rate at 4.5%, and Fort Lauderdale has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 7.2 µg/m³). For overall health outcomes, Sugar Land scores better with a lower obesity rate of 24.8%.
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