Sugar Land TX vs West Palm Beach FL — 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%
West Palm Beach, FL
Florida · Population: 119,508
- Median HH Income$69,261
- Median Home Price$399,650
- Unemployment5.4%
- Bachelor's+37.6%
Detailed Comparison
Demographics
Population
Sugar Land
109,735
West Palm Beach
119,508
West Palm Beach +
Pop. Density / sq mi
Lower = more space
Sugar Land
N/A
West Palm Beach
N/A
Median Age
Sugar Land
42.5
West Palm Beach
40.2
West Palm Beach +
Foreign Born
Sugar Land
35.3%
Sugar Land +
West Palm Beach
27.2%
White
Sugar Land
40.6%
West Palm Beach
44.0%
West Palm Beach +
Black
Sugar Land
7.7%
West Palm Beach
31.5%
West Palm Beach +
Asian
Sugar Land
39.5%
Sugar Land +
West Palm Beach
2.5%
Hispanic
Sugar Land
12.3%
West Palm Beach
24.6%
West Palm Beach +
Spanish at Home
Sugar Land
N/A
West Palm Beach
N/A
| Metric | Sugar Land, TX | West Palm Beach, FL | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 109,735 | 119,508 | West Palm Beach + |
| Pop. Density / sq miLower = more space | N/A | N/A | - |
| Median Age | 42.5 | 40.2 | West Palm Beach + |
| Foreign Born | 35.3% | 27.2% | Sugar Land + |
| White | 40.6% | 44.0% | West Palm Beach + |
| Black | 7.7% | 31.5% | West Palm Beach + |
| Asian | 39.5% | 2.5% | Sugar Land + |
| Hispanic | 12.3% | 24.6% | West Palm Beach + |
| Spanish at Home | N/A | N/A | - |
Economy
Median HH Income
Sugar Land
$137,511
Sugar Land +
West Palm Beach
$69,261
Per Capita Income
Sugar Land
$60,258
Sugar Land +
West Palm Beach
$44,508
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)
BEA MSA-level
Sugar Land
$63,758
West Palm Beach
$65,328
West Palm Beach +
Unemployment Rate
Sugar Land
4.5%
Sugar Land +
West Palm Beach
5.4%
Poverty Rate
Sugar Land
5.1%
Sugar Land +
West Palm Beach
14.8%
Bachelor's Degree+
Sugar Land
62.4%
Sugar Land +
West Palm Beach
37.6%
| Metric | Sugar Land, TX | West Palm Beach, FL | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median HH Income | $137,511 | $69,261 | Sugar Land + |
| Per Capita Income | $60,258 | $44,508 | Sugar Land + |
| Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)BEA MSA-level | $63,758 | $65,328 | West Palm Beach + |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.5% | 5.4% | Sugar Land + |
| Poverty Rate | 5.1% | 14.8% | Sugar Land + |
| Bachelor's Degree+ | 62.4% | 37.6% | Sugar Land + |
Housing
Median Home Value
Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS
Sugar Land
$449,058
West Palm Beach
$399,650
West Palm Beach +
Homeownership Rate
Sugar Land
80.1%
Sugar Land +
West Palm Beach
50.2%
| Metric | Sugar Land, TX | West Palm Beach, FL | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home ValueZillow ZHVI / Census ACS | $449,058 | $399,650 | West Palm Beach + |
| Homeownership Rate | 80.1% | 50.2% | Sugar Land + |
Safety
Violent Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Sugar Land
442
West Palm Beach
324
West Palm Beach +
Property Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Sugar Land
2339
West Palm Beach
1453
West Palm Beach +
| Metric | Sugar Land, TX | West Palm Beach, FL | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.) | 442 | 324 | West Palm Beach + |
| Property Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.) | 2339 | 1453 | West Palm Beach + |
Health
Obesity Rate
CDC PLACES
Sugar Land
24.8%
Sugar Land +
West Palm Beach
29.1%
Diabetes Rate
CDC PLACES
Sugar Land
12.2%
Sugar Land +
West Palm Beach
13.7%
Poor Mental Health
CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month
Sugar Land
12.2%
Sugar Land +
West Palm Beach
16.4%
No Health Insurance
CDC PLACES
Sugar Land
8.5%
Sugar Land +
West Palm Beach
16.9%
Binge Drinking
CDC PLACES
Sugar Land
13.6%
West Palm Beach
13.3%
West Palm Beach +
Current Smokers
CDC PLACES
Sugar Land
8.2%
Sugar Land +
West Palm Beach
13.0%
| Metric | Sugar Land, TX | West Palm Beach, FL | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Obesity RateCDC PLACES | 24.8% | 29.1% | Sugar Land + |
| Diabetes RateCDC PLACES | 12.2% | 13.7% | Sugar Land + |
| Poor Mental HealthCDC PLACES — 14+ days/month | 12.2% | 16.4% | Sugar Land + |
| No Health InsuranceCDC PLACES | 8.5% | 16.9% | Sugar Land + |
| Binge DrinkingCDC PLACES | 13.6% | 13.3% | West Palm Beach + |
| Current SmokersCDC PLACES | 8.2% | 13.0% | Sugar Land + |
Climate
Avg Annual Temp
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Sugar Land
71.3°F
Sugar Land +
West Palm Beach
75.4°F
Annual Precipitation
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Sugar Land
50.4 in
Sugar Land +
West Palm Beach
62.3 in
| Metric | Sugar Land, TX | West Palm Beach, FL | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Annual TempNOAA 1991–2020 normal | 71.3°F | 75.4°F | Sugar Land + |
| Annual PrecipitationNOAA 1991–2020 normal | 50.4 in | 62.3 in | Sugar Land + |
Air Quality
PM2.5 Annual Avg
EPA AQS (state-level est.)
Sugar Land
9.2 µg/m³
West Palm Beach
7.2 µg/m³
West Palm Beach +
Good Air Days
AQI ≤ 50
Sugar Land
55.0%
West Palm Beach
75.0%
West Palm Beach +
| Metric | Sugar Land, TX | West Palm Beach, FL | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| PM2.5 Annual AvgEPA AQS (state-level est.) | 9.2 µg/m³ | 7.2 µg/m³ | West Palm Beach + |
| Good Air DaysAQI ≤ 50 | 55.0% | 75.0% | West Palm Beach + |
Commute
Mean Commute Time
Census ACS
Sugar Land
31.6 min
West Palm Beach
25.0 min
West Palm Beach +
| Metric | Sugar Land, TX | West Palm Beach, FL | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mean Commute TimeCensus ACS | 31.6 min | 25.0 min | West Palm Beach + |
Which City is Right for You?
Sugar Land leads in median household income at $137,511, while west Palm Beach offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $399,650. On public safety, West Palm Beach 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 West Palm Beach 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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