Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Garland, TX
VS
Houston, TX
🏆 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
Houston
Texas
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,440
Violent Crime Index
302⚠ High
Population
2,296,253 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Garland, TX
Pros
80% less violent crime than Houston
Violent crime is well below the national average (232.7 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (5.2%)
Households earn $10,604 more per year on average
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,421/mo
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Houston
Houston, TX
Pros
Rent averages $186/mo less ($1,235 vs $1,421)
More college-educated — 35.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 63°F vs 56°F
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Garland
Cons
Violent crime (1148.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Garland by $10,604/yr
Property crime (4293.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.6% vs 5.2%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Garland
Median Income
$10,604
$71,044 vs $60,440/yr
Garland
Violent Crime
80% lower
232.7 vs 1148.2 per 100k
Garland
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
5.2% vs 6.6% unemployment
Houston
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 100.2 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Garland, TX | Houston, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High | 100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $229,000 ✓ Lower | $235,000 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,421⚠ High | $1,235 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,044 ✓ Higher | $60,440 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.7 min⚠ High | 27.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.4% | 9.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 75 ✓ Safer | 263⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 61 ✓ Safer | 302⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 95 ✓ Safer | 204⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (89) | B (100) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.1% | 35.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 78.6% | 79.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | GARLAND ISD | HOUSTON ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.9°F | 62.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer | 93.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.8" ✓ Drier | 55.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 244,026 | 2,296,253 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.4 ✓ Older | 33.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.0% ✓ Higher | 42.0% |
| Under 18 | 25.8% ✓ More | 23.9% |
| Over 65 | 12.4% ✓ More | 11.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Garland's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Houston's 100.2 (US average = 100).
Houston is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Garland leads 13 of 23 categories. Garland wins 13 and Houston 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 Houston or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($229,000 vs $235,000 median home), income ($71,044 vs $60,440), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Garland, TX and Houston, TX are about 228 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.