Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Durham, NC
VS
Garland, TX
🏆 Durham leads 12 of 22 categories
Durham
North Carolina
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$74,710 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
163⚠ High
Population
284,094 ✓ Larger
Garland
Texas
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,044
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.
Durham, NC
Pros
More college-educated — 53.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (4.3%)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Rent averages $125/mo less ($1,296 vs $1,421)
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Garland
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 94°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $316,600
Violent crime (619.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3799.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Garland, TX
Pros
62% less violent crime than Durham
Homes cost $88k less ($229,000 vs $316,600)
Violent crime is well below the national average (232.7 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 49°F
Cons
Higher unemployment (5.2% vs 4.3%)
Higher rents — median is $1,421/mo
Longer commutes — 29.7 min average each way
Cost of living runs 7% higher than Durham
Key Differences at a Glance
Durham
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 96.6 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Durham
Median Income
$3,666
$74,710 vs $71,044/yr
Durham
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
4.3% vs 5.2% unemployment
Garland
Violent Crime
62% lower
232.7 vs 619.2 per 100k
Garland
Median Home Value
$88k less
$229,000 vs $316,600
Garland
Summer Heat
7.3°F warmer
July avg high 94.3°F vs 87.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Durham, NC | Garland, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 96.6 ✓ Cheaper | 103.3⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $316,600⚠ High | $229,000 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,296 ✓ Lower | $1,421⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $74,710 ✓ Higher | $71,044 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.3 min ✓ Shorter | 29.7 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 17.9% ✓ Higher | 9.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 170⚠ High | 75 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 163⚠ High | 61 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 181⚠ High | 95 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) ✓ Better | C+ (89) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.0:1 | 15.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 53.8% ✓ Higher | 24.1% |
| High School or Higher | 91.3% ✓ Higher | 78.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Durham Public Schools | GARLAND ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.9°F | 55.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.0°F | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.0" | 41.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 5.2" | 0.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 284,094 ✓ Larger | 244,026 |
| Median Age | 34.7 ✓ Older | 34.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.0% | 62.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.1% | 25.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.7% ✓ More | 12.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Durham's cost of living index is 96.6 vs Garland's 103.3 (US average = 100).
Durham is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Durham leads 12 of 22 categories. Durham wins 12 and Garland wins 10. 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 Durham to Garland or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($316,600 vs $229,000 median home), income ($74,710 vs $71,044), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Durham, NC and Garland, TX are about 1,031 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.