What it's like to live in Pearland
Pearland is a mid-size city in Texas with household incomes running above the national average, crime rates well below the national average, air quality that stays clean most of the year, and a highly educated workforce. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Pearland deals with rent well above the national average, commute times longer than most cities, hot summers, and above-average rainfall.
The good
- Higher-than-average incomes
- Low crime rates
- Clean air
- Highly educated workforce
- Average class sizes
The not so good
- Rent well above the national average
- Above-average commute times
- Hot summers
- Above-average rainfall
- Car-dependent — few commuters use transit
How Pearland compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Pearland
Based on Pearland's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$3,720
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $74,400 a year
- 49% of Pearland renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$71,260
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $35,630
- Homes cost 3.0× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▲ 32% above US
$1,860/mo median rent
Rent runs on the higher side, at $1,860 a month median. Whether that premium makes sense usually comes down to the local job market and what it pays. Home prices run above average, with a median around $356,300. Buyers should expect to stretch their budget here.
Median home value $356,300 · 49% of renters cost-burdened
Job marketNear US average
4.0% unemployment
Unemployment here is 4.0%, close to the national average of 4.3%.
City-level (BLS)
Safety▼ 75% below US
82 violent crimes per 100k
Pretty safe, all things considered. Violent crime sits below the national average, nothing alarming, just ordinary city-life awareness.
Property crime 1135/100k · Pearland Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▲ 26% above US
33 min average commute
Traffic is a real factor here. The 32.7 minute average means plenty of commuters are pushing 45 to 60 minutes on a bad day. Proximity to work matters more here than it might elsewhere. 8 in 10 workers drive to work; 14% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are hot and humid, with highs regularly hitting 93°F, and winters are mild, with lows rarely dropping below 48°F. Rainfall is regular throughout the year.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Healthcare
1 hospital
There's one Medicare-certified hospital inside city limits, rated 3.0 out of 5 by Medicare. Hospitals in neighboring towns aren't counted here.
Medicare-certified hospitals
Education & workforce▲ 31% above US
47% bachelor's degree or higher
The population is well-educated, with 47% holding college degrees. That points to a strong professional base and generally a healthy local economy.
Schools
32 public schools inside the boundary
There are 32 public schools inside the boundary and 8 private schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 17:1, close to the national average of 16:1.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Big Thicket National Preserve (84 miles away).
Bottom line
Pearland's strongest points are household incomes running above the national average and crime rates well below the national average; the main tradeoffs are rent well above the national average and commute times longer than most cities. A year of median rent ($1,860/mo) equals 19% of the median household income here, about the same as the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit anyone prioritizing low crime and college-educated professionals. It may be a harder fit for renters on a tight budget, people who dread long commutes, and anyone who doesn't drive.
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