Stockton 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)

Stockton, CA

California · Population: 320,470

  • Median HH Income$76,851
  • Median Home Price$431,297
  • Unemployment8.0%
  • Bachelor's+19.1%

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
Stockton
320,470
Stockton +
Sugar Land
109,735
Pop. Density / sq mi
Lower = more space
Stockton
N/A
Sugar Land
N/A
Median Age
Stockton
33.7
Stockton +
Sugar Land
42.5
Foreign Born
Stockton
25.9%
Sugar Land
35.3%
Sugar Land +
White
Stockton
26.6%
Sugar Land
40.6%
Sugar Land +
Black
Stockton
11.6%
Stockton +
Sugar Land
7.7%
Asian
Stockton
21.1%
Sugar Land
39.5%
Sugar Land +
Hispanic
Stockton
45.2%
Stockton +
Sugar Land
12.3%
Spanish at Home
Stockton
N/A
Sugar Land
N/A

Economy

Median HH Income
Stockton
$76,851
Sugar Land
$137,511
Sugar Land +
Per Capita Income
Stockton
$31,279
Sugar Land
$60,258
Sugar Land +
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)
BEA MSA-level
Stockton
$77,230
Stockton +
Sugar Land
$63,758
Unemployment Rate
Stockton
8.0%
Sugar Land
4.5%
Sugar Land +
Poverty Rate
Stockton
15.4%
Sugar Land
5.1%
Sugar Land +
Bachelor's Degree+
Stockton
19.1%
Sugar Land
62.4%
Sugar Land +

Housing

Median Home Value
Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS
Stockton
$431,297
Stockton +
Sugar Land
$449,058
Homeownership Rate
Stockton
53.2%
Sugar Land
80.1%
Sugar Land +

Safety

Violent Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Stockton
503
Sugar Land
442
Sugar Land +
Property Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Stockton
2388
Sugar Land
2339
Sugar Land +

Health

Obesity Rate
CDC PLACES
Stockton
31.8%
Sugar Land
24.8%
Sugar Land +
Diabetes Rate
CDC PLACES
Stockton
13.5%
Sugar Land
12.2%
Sugar Land +
Poor Mental Health
CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month
Stockton
18.1%
Sugar Land
12.2%
Sugar Land +
No Health Insurance
CDC PLACES
Stockton
15.0%
Sugar Land
8.5%
Sugar Land +
Binge Drinking
CDC PLACES
Stockton
13.3%
Stockton +
Sugar Land
13.6%
Current Smokers
CDC PLACES
Stockton
13.8%
Sugar Land
8.2%
Sugar Land +

Climate

Avg Annual Temp
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Stockton
62.2°F
Stockton +
Sugar Land
71.3°F
Annual Precipitation
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Stockton
17.8 in
Stockton +
Sugar Land
50.4 in

Air Quality

PM2.5 Annual Avg
EPA AQS (state-level est.)
Stockton
7.9 µg/m³
Stockton +
Sugar Land
9.2 µg/m³
Good Air Days
AQI ≤ 50
Stockton
75.0%
Stockton +
Sugar Land
55.0%

Commute

Mean Commute Time
Census ACS
Stockton
33.2 min
Sugar Land
31.6 min
Sugar Land +

Which City is Right for You?

Sugar Land leads in median household income at $137,511, while stockton offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $431,297. On public safety, Sugar Land is safer with a violent crime rate of 442 per 100,000 residents, compared to 503 in Stockton. Sugar Land has a lower unemployment rate at 4.5%, and Stockton has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 7.9 µg/m³). For overall health outcomes, Sugar Land scores better with a lower obesity rate of 24.8%.

Compare More Cities

About Stockton & Sugar Land