Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fresno, CA
VS
Garland, TX
🏆 Garland leads 14 of 23 categories
Fresno
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$63,001
Violent Crime Index
194⚠ High
Population
541,528 ✓ Larger
Garland
Texas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
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.
Fresno, CA
Pros
Rent averages $194/mo less ($1,227 vs $1,421)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $321,800
Violent crime (735.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3271.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Garland by $8,043/yr
Garland, TX
Pros
68% less violent crime than Fresno
Homes cost $93k less ($229,000 vs $321,800)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.8 pts lower (5.2%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (232.7 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $8,043 more per year on average
Smaller class sizes — 15.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,421/mo
Longer commutes — 29.7 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Fresno
Summer Heat
3.4°F warmer
July avg high 97.7°F vs 94.3°F
Garland
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 105.0 (100 = US avg)
Garland
Median Income
$8,043
$71,044 vs $63,001/yr
Garland
Violent Crime
68% lower
232.7 vs 735.5 per 100k
Garland
Median Home Value
$93k less
$229,000 vs $321,800
Garland
Unemployment
3.8 pp lower
5.2% vs 9.0% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fresno, CA | Garland, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.0⚠ High | 103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $321,800⚠ High | $229,000 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,227 ✓ Lower | $1,421⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $63,001 | $71,044 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.0%⚠ High | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.3 min ✓ Shorter | 29.7 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 8.8% | 9.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 178⚠ High | 75 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 194⚠ High | 61 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 156⚠ High | 95 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | C+ (89) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.3:1 | 15.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.4% ✓ Higher | 24.1% |
| High School or Higher | 79.7% ✓ Higher | 78.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fresno Unified | GARLAND ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.4°F | 55.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 97.7°F ✓ Warmer | 94.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.4" ✓ Drier | 41.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 0.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 541,528 ✓ Larger | 244,026 |
| Median Age | 32.1 | 34.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.1% | 62.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 27.8% ✓ More | 25.8% |
| Over 65 | 11.9% | 12.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fresno's cost of living index is 105.0 vs Garland's 103.3 (US average = 100).
Garland is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Garland leads 14 of 23 categories. Fresno wins 9 and Garland wins 14. 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 Fresno to Garland or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($321,800 vs $229,000 median home), income ($63,001 vs $71,044), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fresno, CA and Garland, TX are about 1,337 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.