Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cary, NC
VS
Garland, TX
🏆 Cary leads 14 of 23 categories
Cary
North Carolina
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$125,317 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
19 ✓ Safer
Population
174,880
Garland
Texas
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,044
Violent Crime Index
61
Population
244,026 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Cary, NC
Pros
Households earn $54,273 more per year on average
69% less violent crime than Garland
More college-educated — 70.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (71.0 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.8 pts lower (3.4%)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $477,400
Higher rents — median is $1,538/mo
Garland, TX
Pros
Homes cost $248k less ($229,000 vs $477,400)
Violent crime is well below the national average (232.7 vs 380/100k)
Rent averages $117/mo less ($1,421 vs $1,538)
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 51°F
Cons
Median income trails Cary by $54,273/yr
Higher unemployment (5.2% vs 3.4%)
Longer commutes — 29.7 min average each way
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Cary
Key Differences at a Glance
Cary
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 98.0 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Cary
Median Income
$54,273
$125,317 vs $71,044/yr
Cary
Violent Crime
69% lower
71.0 vs 232.7 per 100k
Cary
Unemployment
1.8 pp lower
3.4% vs 5.2% unemployment
Garland
Median Home Value
$248k less
$229,000 vs $477,400
Garland
Summer Heat
5.3°F warmer
July avg high 94.3°F vs 89.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cary, NC | Garland, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.0 ✓ Cheaper | 103.3⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $477,400⚠ High | $229,000 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,538⚠ High | $1,421⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $125,317 ✓ Higher | $71,044 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.4% ✓ Lower | 5.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.8 min ✓ Shorter | 29.7 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 28.3% ✓ Higher | 9.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 36 ✓ Safer | 75 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 19 ✓ Safer | 61 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 63 ✓ Safer | 95 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (118) ✓ Better | C+ (89) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.3:1 | 15.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 70.3% ✓ Higher | 24.1% |
| High School or Higher | 96.8% ✓ Higher | 78.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Wake County Schools | GARLAND ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.9°F | 55.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.0°F | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.3" | 41.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 4.8" | 0.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 174,880 | 244,026 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.4 ✓ Older | 34.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 66.8% ✓ Higher | 62.0% |
| Under 18 | 24.5% | 25.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.2% ✓ More | 12.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cary's cost of living index is 98.0 vs Garland's 103.3 (US average = 100).
Cary is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Cary leads 14 of 23 categories. Cary wins 14 and Garland wins 9. 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 Cary to Garland or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($477,400 vs $229,000 median home), income ($125,317 vs $71,044), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cary, NC and Garland, TX are about 1,033 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.