San Francisco CA 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)
San Francisco, CA
California · Population: 836,321
- Median HH Income$141,446
- Median Home Price$1,369,171
- Unemployment5.6%
- Bachelor's+60.1%
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
San Francisco
836,321
San Francisco +
Sugar Land
109,735
Pop. Density / sq mi
Lower = more space
San Francisco
N/A
Sugar Land
N/A
Median Age
San Francisco
39.7
San Francisco +
Sugar Land
42.5
Foreign Born
San Francisco
34.2%
Sugar Land
35.3%
Sugar Land +
White
San Francisco
40.5%
Sugar Land
40.6%
Sugar Land +
Black
San Francisco
5.1%
Sugar Land
7.7%
Sugar Land +
Asian
San Francisco
35.0%
Sugar Land
39.5%
Sugar Land +
Hispanic
San Francisco
15.9%
San Francisco +
Sugar Land
12.3%
Spanish at Home
San Francisco
N/A
Sugar Land
N/A
| Metric | San Francisco, CA | Sugar Land, TX | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 836,321 | 109,735 | San Francisco + |
| Pop. Density / sq miLower = more space | N/A | N/A | - |
| Median Age | 39.7 | 42.5 | San Francisco + |
| Foreign Born | 34.2% | 35.3% | Sugar Land + |
| White | 40.5% | 40.6% | Sugar Land + |
| Black | 5.1% | 7.7% | Sugar Land + |
| Asian | 35.0% | 39.5% | Sugar Land + |
| Hispanic | 15.9% | 12.3% | San Francisco + |
| Spanish at Home | N/A | N/A | - |
Economy
Median HH Income
San Francisco
$141,446
San Francisco +
Sugar Land
$137,511
Per Capita Income
San Francisco
$90,285
San Francisco +
Sugar Land
$60,258
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)
BEA MSA-level
San Francisco
$77,230
San Francisco +
Sugar Land
$63,758
Unemployment Rate
San Francisco
5.6%
Sugar Land
4.5%
Sugar Land +
Poverty Rate
San Francisco
10.6%
Sugar Land
5.1%
Sugar Land +
Bachelor's Degree+
San Francisco
60.1%
Sugar Land
62.4%
Sugar Land +
| Metric | San Francisco, CA | Sugar Land, TX | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median HH Income | $141,446 | $137,511 | San Francisco + |
| Per Capita Income | $90,285 | $60,258 | San Francisco + |
| Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)BEA MSA-level | $77,230 | $63,758 | San Francisco + |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6% | 4.5% | Sugar Land + |
| Poverty Rate | 10.6% | 5.1% | Sugar Land + |
| Bachelor's Degree+ | 60.1% | 62.4% | Sugar Land + |
Housing
Median Home Value
Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS
San Francisco
$1,369,171
Sugar Land
$449,058
Sugar Land +
Homeownership Rate
San Francisco
38.5%
Sugar Land
80.1%
Sugar Land +
| Metric | San Francisco, CA | Sugar Land, TX | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home ValueZillow ZHVI / Census ACS | $1,369,171 | $449,058 | Sugar Land + |
| Homeownership Rate | 38.5% | 80.1% | Sugar Land + |
Safety
Violent Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
San Francisco
503
Sugar Land
442
Sugar Land +
Property Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
San Francisco
2388
Sugar Land
2339
Sugar Land +
| Metric | San Francisco, CA | Sugar Land, TX | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.) | 503 | 442 | Sugar Land + |
| Property Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.) | 2388 | 2339 | Sugar Land + |
Health
Obesity Rate
CDC PLACES
San Francisco
17.5%
San Francisco +
Sugar Land
24.8%
Diabetes Rate
CDC PLACES
San Francisco
9.7%
San Francisco +
Sugar Land
12.2%
Poor Mental Health
CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month
San Francisco
14.5%
Sugar Land
12.2%
Sugar Land +
No Health Insurance
CDC PLACES
San Francisco
6.6%
San Francisco +
Sugar Land
8.5%
Binge Drinking
CDC PLACES
San Francisco
19.6%
Sugar Land
13.6%
Sugar Land +
Current Smokers
CDC PLACES
San Francisco
9.1%
Sugar Land
8.2%
Sugar Land +
| Metric | San Francisco, CA | Sugar Land, TX | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Obesity RateCDC PLACES | 17.5% | 24.8% | San Francisco + |
| Diabetes RateCDC PLACES | 9.7% | 12.2% | San Francisco + |
| Poor Mental HealthCDC PLACES — 14+ days/month | 14.5% | 12.2% | Sugar Land + |
| No Health InsuranceCDC PLACES | 6.6% | 8.5% | San Francisco + |
| Binge DrinkingCDC PLACES | 19.6% | 13.6% | Sugar Land + |
| Current SmokersCDC PLACES | 9.1% | 8.2% | Sugar Land + |
Climate
Avg Annual Temp
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
San Francisco
55.3°F
San Francisco +
Sugar Land
71.3°F
Annual Precipitation
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
San Francisco
20.7 in
San Francisco +
Sugar Land
50.4 in
| Metric | San Francisco, CA | Sugar Land, TX | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Annual TempNOAA 1991–2020 normal | 55.3°F | 71.3°F | San Francisco + |
| Annual PrecipitationNOAA 1991–2020 normal | 20.7 in | 50.4 in | San Francisco + |
Air Quality
PM2.5 Annual Avg
EPA AQS (state-level est.)
San Francisco
7.9 µg/m³
San Francisco +
Sugar Land
9.2 µg/m³
Good Air Days
AQI ≤ 50
San Francisco
75.0%
San Francisco +
Sugar Land
55.0%
| Metric | San Francisco, CA | Sugar Land, TX | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| PM2.5 Annual AvgEPA AQS (state-level est.) | 7.9 µg/m³ | 9.2 µg/m³ | San Francisco + |
| Good Air DaysAQI ≤ 50 | 75.0% | 55.0% | San Francisco + |
Commute
Mean Commute Time
Census ACS
San Francisco
33.9 min
Sugar Land
31.6 min
Sugar Land +
| Metric | San Francisco, CA | Sugar Land, TX | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mean Commute TimeCensus ACS | 33.9 min | 31.6 min | Sugar Land + |
Which City is Right for You?
San Francisco leads in median household income at $141,446, while sugar Land offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $449,058. On public safety, Sugar Land is safer with a violent crime rate of 442 per 100,000 residents, compared to 503 in San Francisco. Sugar Land has a lower unemployment rate at 4.5%, and San Francisco has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 7.9 µg/m³). For overall health outcomes, San Francisco scores better with a lower obesity rate of 17.5%.
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