Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Garland, TX
VS
Hampton, VA
🏆 Garland leads 13 of 23 categories
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 ✓ Larger
Hampton
Virginia
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$64,430
Violent Crime Index
65
Population
137,217
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Garland, TX
Pros
Violent crime is well below the national average (232.7 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.3 pts lower (5.2%)
Households earn $6,614 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 49°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,421/mo
Longer commutes — 29.7 min average each way
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Hampton
Hampton, VA
Pros
Violent crime is well below the national average (247.6 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Rent averages $166/mo less ($1,255 vs $1,421)
More college-educated — 27.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 94°F
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Garland
Cons
Property crime (2882.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.5% vs 5.2%)
Median income trails Garland by $6,614/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Garland
Median Income
$6,614
$71,044 vs $64,430/yr
Garland
Violent Crime
6% lower
232.7 vs 247.6 per 100k
Garland
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
5.2% vs 6.5% unemployment
Garland
Summer Heat
7.0°F warmer
July avg high 94.3°F vs 87.3°F
Hampton
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Garland, TX | Hampton, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $229,000 | $219,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,421⚠ High | $1,255 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,044 ✓ Higher | $64,430 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.7 min⚠ High | 22.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.4% ✓ Higher | 7.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 75 ✓ Safer | 94 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 61 ✓ Safer | 65 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 95 ✓ Safer | 137⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (89) | B (101) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.0:1 | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.1% | 27.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 78.6% | 92.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | GARLAND ISD | Hampton City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.9°F ✓ Warmer | 49.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer | 87.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.8" ✓ Drier | 47.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" ✓ Less | 2.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 244,026 ✓ Larger | 137,217 |
| Median Age | 34.4 | 36.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.0% ✓ Higher | 55.6% |
| Under 18 | 25.8% ✓ More | 21.3% |
| Over 65 | 12.4% | 15.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Garland's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Hampton's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Hampton is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Garland leads 13 of 23 categories. Garland wins 13 and Hampton 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 Garland to Hampton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($229,000 vs $219,800 median home), income ($71,044 vs $64,430), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Garland, TX and Hampton, VA are about 1,184 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.