Sugar Land TX vs Sunnyvale CA — Cost of Living, Crime & Income Comparison 2026
Updated May 2026 · Source: US Census ACS 5-Year (2023), FBI CDE (2023), BLS OEWS (2024)
Sugar Land, TX
Texas · Population: 109,735
- Median HH Income$137,511
- Median Home Price$449,058
- Unemployment4.5%
- Bachelor's+62.4%
Sunnyvale, CA
California · Population: 153,455
- Median HH Income$181,862
- Median Home Price$2,144,024
- Unemployment4.1%
- Bachelor's+69.2%
Detailed Comparison
Demographics
Population
Sugar Land
109,735
Sunnyvale
153,455
Sunnyvale +
Pop. Density / sq mi
Lower = more space
Sugar Land
N/A
Sunnyvale
N/A
Median Age
Sugar Land
42.5
Sunnyvale
35.1
Sunnyvale +
Foreign Born
Sugar Land
35.3%
Sunnyvale
49.4%
Sunnyvale +
White
Sugar Land
40.6%
Sugar Land +
Sunnyvale
30.4%
Black
Sugar Land
7.7%
Sugar Land +
Sunnyvale
1.5%
Asian
Sugar Land
39.5%
Sunnyvale
49.4%
Sunnyvale +
Hispanic
Sugar Land
12.3%
Sunnyvale
16.7%
Sunnyvale +
Spanish at Home
Sugar Land
N/A
Sunnyvale
N/A
| Metric | Sugar Land, TX | Sunnyvale, CA | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 109,735 | 153,455 | Sunnyvale + |
| Pop. Density / sq miLower = more space | N/A | N/A | - |
| Median Age | 42.5 | 35.1 | Sunnyvale + |
| Foreign Born | 35.3% | 49.4% | Sunnyvale + |
| White | 40.6% | 30.4% | Sugar Land + |
| Black | 7.7% | 1.5% | Sugar Land + |
| Asian | 39.5% | 49.4% | Sunnyvale + |
| Hispanic | 12.3% | 16.7% | Sunnyvale + |
| Spanish at Home | N/A | N/A | - |
Economy
Median HH Income
Sugar Land
$137,511
Sunnyvale
$181,862
Sunnyvale +
Per Capita Income
Sugar Land
$60,258
Sunnyvale
$95,752
Sunnyvale +
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)
BEA MSA-level
Sugar Land
$63,758
Sunnyvale
$77,230
Sunnyvale +
Unemployment Rate
Sugar Land
4.5%
Sunnyvale
4.1%
Sunnyvale +
Poverty Rate
Sugar Land
5.1%
Sugar Land +
Sunnyvale
5.6%
Bachelor's Degree+
Sugar Land
62.4%
Sunnyvale
69.2%
Sunnyvale +
| Metric | Sugar Land, TX | Sunnyvale, CA | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median HH Income | $137,511 | $181,862 | Sunnyvale + |
| Per Capita Income | $60,258 | $95,752 | Sunnyvale + |
| Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)BEA MSA-level | $63,758 | $77,230 | Sunnyvale + |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.5% | 4.1% | Sunnyvale + |
| Poverty Rate | 5.1% | 5.6% | Sugar Land + |
| Bachelor's Degree+ | 62.4% | 69.2% | Sunnyvale + |
Housing
Median Home Value
Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS
Sugar Land
$449,058
Sugar Land +
Sunnyvale
$2,144,024
Homeownership Rate
Sugar Land
80.1%
Sugar Land +
Sunnyvale
43.8%
| Metric | Sugar Land, TX | Sunnyvale, CA | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home ValueZillow ZHVI / Census ACS | $449,058 | $2,144,024 | Sugar Land + |
| Homeownership Rate | 80.1% | 43.8% | Sugar Land + |
Safety
Violent Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Sugar Land
442
Sugar Land +
Sunnyvale
503
Property Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Sugar Land
2339
Sugar Land +
Sunnyvale
2388
| Metric | Sugar Land, TX | Sunnyvale, CA | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.) | 442 | 503 | Sugar Land + |
| Property Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.) | 2339 | 2388 | Sugar Land + |
Health
Obesity Rate
CDC PLACES
Sugar Land
24.8%
Sunnyvale
19.7%
Sunnyvale +
Diabetes Rate
CDC PLACES
Sugar Land
12.2%
Sunnyvale
8.3%
Sunnyvale +
Poor Mental Health
CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month
Sugar Land
12.2%
Sugar Land +
Sunnyvale
12.9%
No Health Insurance
CDC PLACES
Sugar Land
8.5%
Sunnyvale
5.2%
Sunnyvale +
Binge Drinking
CDC PLACES
Sugar Land
13.6%
Sunnyvale
13.5%
Sunnyvale +
Current Smokers
CDC PLACES
Sugar Land
8.2%
Sunnyvale
6.7%
Sunnyvale +
| Metric | Sugar Land, TX | Sunnyvale, CA | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Obesity RateCDC PLACES | 24.8% | 19.7% | Sunnyvale + |
| Diabetes RateCDC PLACES | 12.2% | 8.3% | Sunnyvale + |
| Poor Mental HealthCDC PLACES — 14+ days/month | 12.2% | 12.9% | Sugar Land + |
| No Health InsuranceCDC PLACES | 8.5% | 5.2% | Sunnyvale + |
| Binge DrinkingCDC PLACES | 13.6% | 13.5% | Sunnyvale + |
| Current SmokersCDC PLACES | 8.2% | 6.7% | Sunnyvale + |
Climate
Avg Annual Temp
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Sugar Land
71.3°F
Sunnyvale
N/A
Annual Precipitation
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Sugar Land
50.4 in
Sunnyvale
N/A
| Metric | Sugar Land, TX | Sunnyvale, CA | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Annual TempNOAA 1991–2020 normal | 71.3°F | N/A | - |
| Annual PrecipitationNOAA 1991–2020 normal | 50.4 in | N/A | - |
Air Quality
PM2.5 Annual Avg
EPA AQS (state-level est.)
Sugar Land
9.2 µg/m³
Sunnyvale
7.9 µg/m³
Sunnyvale +
Good Air Days
AQI ≤ 50
Sugar Land
55.0%
Sunnyvale
75.0%
Sunnyvale +
| Metric | Sugar Land, TX | Sunnyvale, CA | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| PM2.5 Annual AvgEPA AQS (state-level est.) | 9.2 µg/m³ | 7.9 µg/m³ | Sunnyvale + |
| Good Air DaysAQI ≤ 50 | 55.0% | 75.0% | Sunnyvale + |
Commute
Mean Commute Time
Census ACS
Sugar Land
31.6 min
Sunnyvale
25.3 min
Sunnyvale +
| Metric | Sugar Land, TX | Sunnyvale, CA | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mean Commute TimeCensus ACS | 31.6 min | 25.3 min | Sunnyvale + |
Which City is Right for You?
Sunnyvale leads in median household income at $181,862, 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 Sunnyvale. Sunnyvale has a lower unemployment rate at 4.1%, and Sunnyvale has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 7.9 µg/m³). For overall health outcomes, Sunnyvale scores better with a lower obesity rate of 19.7%.
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