Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cincinnati, OH
VS
Garland, TX
🏆 Garland leads 13 of 23 categories
Cincinnati
Ohio
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$49,191
Violent Crime Index
223⚠ High
Population
308,870 ✓ Larger
Garland
Texas
13
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.
Cincinnati, OH
Pros
Rent averages $528/mo less ($893 vs $1,421)
Homes cost $37k less ($192,000 vs $229,000)
More college-educated — 40.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Garland
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.1)
Cons
Median income trails Garland by $21,853/yr
Violent crime (845.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3829.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.9% vs 5.2%)
Garland, TX
Pros
72% less violent crime than Cincinnati
Households earn $21,853 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (232.7 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.7 pts lower (5.2%)
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 41°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,421/mo
Cost of living runs 9% higher than Cincinnati
Longer commutes — 29.7 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Cincinnati
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 94.1 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Cincinnati
Median Home Value
$37k less
$192,000 vs $229,000
Garland
Median Income
$21,853
$71,044 vs $49,191/yr
Garland
Violent Crime
72% lower
232.7 vs 845.6 per 100k
Garland
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
5.2% vs 6.9% unemployment
Garland
Summer Heat
7.7°F warmer
July avg high 94.3°F vs 86.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cincinnati, OH | Garland, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.1 ✓ Cheaper | 103.3⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $192,000 ✓ Lower | $229,000 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $893 ✓ Lower | $1,421⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $49,191 | $71,044 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.4 min ✓ Shorter | 29.7 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 11.5% ✓ Higher | 9.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 206⚠ High | 75 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 223⚠ High | 61 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 182⚠ High | 95 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) ✓ Better | C+ (89) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.9:1 | 15.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.5% ✓ Higher | 24.1% |
| High School or Higher | 89.1% ✓ Higher | 78.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cincinnati Public Schools | GARLAND ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 40.6°F | 55.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.6°F | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.4" | 41.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 16.0" | 0.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 308,870 ✓ Larger | 244,026 |
| Median Age | 32.9 | 34.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.3% | 62.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.0% | 25.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.9% ✓ More | 12.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cincinnati's cost of living index is 94.1 vs Garland's 103.3 (US average = 100).
Cincinnati is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Garland leads 13 of 23 categories. Cincinnati wins 10 and Garland wins 13. 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 Cincinnati to Garland or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($192,000 vs $229,000 median home), income ($49,191 vs $71,044), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cincinnati, OH and Garland, TX are about 802 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.