New York NY 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)
New York, NY
New York · Population: 8,516,202
- Median HH Income$79,713
- Median Home Price$816,078
- Unemployment7.7%
- Bachelor's+41.0%
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
New York
8,516,202
New York +
Sugar Land
109,735
Pop. Density / sq mi
Lower = more space
New York
N/A
Sugar Land
N/A
Median Age
New York
38.0
New York +
Sugar Land
42.5
Foreign Born
New York
36.5%
New York +
Sugar Land
35.3%
White
New York
35.9%
Sugar Land
40.6%
Sugar Land +
Black
New York
22.7%
New York +
Sugar Land
7.7%
Asian
New York
14.6%
Sugar Land
39.5%
Sugar Land +
Hispanic
New York
28.4%
New York +
Sugar Land
12.3%
Spanish at Home
New York
N/A
Sugar Land
N/A
| Metric | New York, NY | Sugar Land, TX | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 8,516,202 | 109,735 | New York + |
| Pop. Density / sq miLower = more space | N/A | N/A | - |
| Median Age | 38.0 | 42.5 | New York + |
| Foreign Born | 36.5% | 35.3% | New York + |
| White | 35.9% | 40.6% | Sugar Land + |
| Black | 22.7% | 7.7% | New York + |
| Asian | 14.6% | 39.5% | Sugar Land + |
| Hispanic | 28.4% | 12.3% | New York + |
| Spanish at Home | N/A | N/A | - |
Economy
Median HH Income
New York
$79,713
Sugar Land
$137,511
Sugar Land +
Per Capita Income
New York
$50,776
Sugar Land
$60,258
Sugar Land +
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)
BEA MSA-level
New York
$77,425
New York +
Sugar Land
$63,758
Unemployment Rate
New York
7.7%
Sugar Land
4.5%
Sugar Land +
Poverty Rate
New York
17.4%
Sugar Land
5.1%
Sugar Land +
Bachelor's Degree+
New York
41.0%
Sugar Land
62.4%
Sugar Land +
| Metric | New York, NY | Sugar Land, TX | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median HH Income | $79,713 | $137,511 | Sugar Land + |
| Per Capita Income | $50,776 | $60,258 | Sugar Land + |
| Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)BEA MSA-level | $77,425 | $63,758 | New York + |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.7% | 4.5% | Sugar Land + |
| Poverty Rate | 17.4% | 5.1% | Sugar Land + |
| Bachelor's Degree+ | 41.0% | 62.4% | Sugar Land + |
Housing
Median Home Value
Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS
New York
$816,078
Sugar Land
$449,058
Sugar Land +
Homeownership Rate
New York
32.8%
Sugar Land
80.1%
Sugar Land +
| Metric | New York, NY | Sugar Land, TX | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home ValueZillow ZHVI / Census ACS | $816,078 | $449,058 | Sugar Land + |
| Homeownership Rate | 32.8% | 80.1% | Sugar Land + |
Safety
Violent Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
New York
434
New York +
Sugar Land
442
Property Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
New York
1736
New York +
Sugar Land
2339
| Metric | New York, NY | Sugar Land, TX | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.) | 434 | 442 | New York + |
| Property Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.) | 1736 | 2339 | New York + |
Health
Obesity Rate
CDC PLACES
New York
25.1%
Sugar Land
24.8%
Sugar Land +
Diabetes Rate
CDC PLACES
New York
11.9%
New York +
Sugar Land
12.2%
Poor Mental Health
CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month
New York
15.4%
Sugar Land
12.2%
Sugar Land +
No Health Insurance
CDC PLACES
New York
10.6%
Sugar Land
8.5%
Sugar Land +
Binge Drinking
CDC PLACES
New York
16.9%
Sugar Land
13.6%
Sugar Land +
Current Smokers
CDC PLACES
New York
11.4%
Sugar Land
8.2%
Sugar Land +
| Metric | New York, NY | Sugar Land, TX | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Obesity RateCDC PLACES | 25.1% | 24.8% | Sugar Land + |
| Diabetes RateCDC PLACES | 11.9% | 12.2% | New York + |
| Poor Mental HealthCDC PLACES — 14+ days/month | 15.4% | 12.2% | Sugar Land + |
| No Health InsuranceCDC PLACES | 10.6% | 8.5% | Sugar Land + |
| Binge DrinkingCDC PLACES | 16.9% | 13.6% | Sugar Land + |
| Current SmokersCDC PLACES | 11.4% | 8.2% | Sugar Land + |
Climate
Avg Annual Temp
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
New York
55.4°F
New York +
Sugar Land
71.3°F
Annual Precipitation
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
New York
46.6 in
New York +
Sugar Land
50.4 in
| Metric | New York, NY | Sugar Land, TX | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Annual TempNOAA 1991–2020 normal | 55.4°F | 71.3°F | New York + |
| Annual PrecipitationNOAA 1991–2020 normal | 46.6 in | 50.4 in | New York + |
Air Quality
PM2.5 Annual Avg
EPA AQS (state-level est.)
New York
8.1 µg/m³
New York +
Sugar Land
9.2 µg/m³
Good Air Days
AQI ≤ 50
New York
75.0%
New York +
Sugar Land
55.0%
| Metric | New York, NY | Sugar Land, TX | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| PM2.5 Annual AvgEPA AQS (state-level est.) | 8.1 µg/m³ | 9.2 µg/m³ | New York + |
| Good Air DaysAQI ≤ 50 | 75.0% | 55.0% | New York + |
Commute
Mean Commute Time
Census ACS
New York
44.2 min
Sugar Land
31.6 min
Sugar Land +
| Metric | New York, NY | Sugar Land, TX | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mean Commute TimeCensus ACS | 44.2 min | 31.6 min | Sugar Land + |
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, New York is safer with a violent crime rate of 434 per 100,000 residents, compared to 442 in Sugar Land. Sugar Land has a lower unemployment rate at 4.5%, and New York has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 8.1 µg/m³). For overall health outcomes, Sugar Land scores better with a lower obesity rate of 24.8%.
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