Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Columbia, MO
VS
Garland, TX
🏆 Garland leads 15 of 23 categories
Columbia
Missouri
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,455
Violent Crime Index
91
Population
126,172
Garland
Texas
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,044 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
61 ✓ Safer
Population
244,026 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Columbia, MO
Pros
Rent averages $424/mo less ($997 vs $1,421)
More college-educated — 55.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 13 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (4.0%)
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Garland
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.3)
Cons
Median income trails Garland by $10,589/yr
Garland, TX
Pros
33% less violent crime than Columbia
Violent crime is well below the national average (232.7 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $10,589 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 39°F
Homes cost $20k less ($229,000 vs $248,600)
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,421/mo
Cost of living runs 14% higher than Columbia
Higher unemployment (5.2% vs 4.0%)
Longer commutes — 29.7 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Columbia
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 89.3 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Columbia
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
4.0% vs 5.2% unemployment
Garland
Median Income
$10,589
$71,044 vs $60,455/yr
Garland
Violent Crime
33% lower
232.7 vs 347.5 per 100k
Garland
Median Home Value
$20k less
$229,000 vs $248,600
Garland
Summer Heat
5.7°F warmer
July avg high 94.3°F vs 88.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Columbia, MO | Garland, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.3 ✓ Cheaper | 103.3⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $248,600 | $229,000 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $997 ✓ Lower | $1,421⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $60,455 | $71,044 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 16.5 min ✓ Shorter | 29.7 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.6% | 9.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 99 | 75 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 91 | 61 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 110⚠ High | 95 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (123) ✓ Better | C+ (89) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 55.3% ✓ Higher | 24.1% |
| High School or Higher | 95.4% ✓ Higher | 78.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | COLUMBIA 93 | GARLAND ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.3°F | 55.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.6°F | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.8" | 41.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 17.4" | 0.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 126,172 | 244,026 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 28.8 | 34.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.8% | 62.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.0% | 25.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.1% | 12.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Columbia's cost of living index is 89.3 vs Garland's 103.3 (US average = 100).
Columbia is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Garland leads 15 of 23 categories. Columbia wins 8 and Garland wins 15. 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 Columbia to Garland or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($248,600 vs $229,000 median home), income ($60,455 vs $71,044), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Columbia, MO and Garland, TX are about 482 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.