Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Baltimore, MD
VS
Garland, TX
🏆 Garland leads 12 of 23 categories
Baltimore
Maryland
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.7⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,349
Violent Crime Index
423⚠ High
Population
584,548 ✓ Larger
Garland
Texas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,044 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
61 ✓ Safer
Population
244,026
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Baltimore, MD
Pros
Rent averages $186/mo less ($1,235 vs $1,421)
Homes cost $26k less ($202,900 vs $229,000)
More college-educated — 34.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Violent crime (1606.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Garland by $12,695/yr
Property crime (4157.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.9% vs 5.2%)
Garland, TX
Pros
86% less violent crime than Baltimore
Violent crime is well below the national average (232.7 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $12,695 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.7 pts lower (5.2%)
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 44°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,421/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Baltimore
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 102.7 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Baltimore
Median Home Value
$26k less
$202,900 vs $229,000
Garland
Median Income
$12,695
$71,044 vs $58,349/yr
Garland
Violent Crime
86% lower
232.7 vs 1606.2 per 100k
Garland
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
5.2% vs 6.9% unemployment
Garland
Summer Heat
4.2°F warmer
July avg high 94.3°F vs 90.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Baltimore, MD | Garland, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.7⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 103.3⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $202,900 ✓ Lower | $229,000 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,235 ✓ Lower | $1,421⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,349 | $71,044 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.1 min⚠ High | 29.7 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.4% ✓ Higher | 9.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 333⚠ High | 75 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 423⚠ High | 61 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 198⚠ High | 95 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) ✓ Better | C+ (89) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.9% ✓ Higher | 24.1% |
| High School or Higher | 87.1% ✓ Higher | 78.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Baltimore City Public Schools | GARLAND ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 43.7°F | 55.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.1°F | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.7" | 41.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 19.3" | 0.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 584,548 ✓ Larger | 244,026 |
| Median Age | 36.0 ✓ Older | 34.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.8% | 62.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.4% | 25.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.8% ✓ More | 12.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Baltimore's cost of living index is 102.7 vs Garland's 103.3 (US average = 100).
Baltimore is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Garland leads 12 of 23 categories. Baltimore wins 11 and Garland wins 12. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Baltimore to Garland or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($202,900 vs $229,000 median home), income ($58,349 vs $71,044), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Baltimore, MD and Garland, TX are about 1,198 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.