Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Garland, TX
VS
Independence, MO
🏆 Garland leads 14 of 23 categories
Garland
Texas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,044 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
61 ✓ Safer
Population
244,026 ✓ Larger
Independence
Missouri
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$57,415
Violent Crime Index
150⚠ High
Population
122,218
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Garland, TX
Pros
59% less violent crime than Independence
Households earn $13,629 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (232.7 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (5.2%)
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 38°F
More college-educated — 24.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,421/mo
Cost of living runs 10% higher than Independence
Longer commutes — 29.7 min average each way
Independence, MO
Pros
Homes cost $78k less ($150,800 vs $229,000)
Rent averages $401/mo less ($1,020 vs $1,421)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Garland
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.3)
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 94°F
Cons
Violent crime (571.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Garland by $13,629/yr
Property crime (3523.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.2% vs 5.2%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Garland
Median Income
$13,629
$71,044 vs $57,415/yr
Garland
Violent Crime
59% lower
232.7 vs 571.2 per 100k
Garland
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
5.2% vs 6.2% unemployment
Garland
Summer Heat
7.4°F warmer
July avg high 94.3°F vs 86.9°F
Independence
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 93.3 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Independence
Median Home Value
$78k less
$150,800 vs $229,000
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Garland, TX | Independence, MO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High | 93.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $229,000 | $150,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,421⚠ High | $1,020 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,044 ✓ Higher | $57,415 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.7 min⚠ High | 23.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.4% ✓ Higher | 8.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 75 ✓ Safer | 157⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 61 ✓ Safer | 150⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 95 ✓ Safer | 168⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (89) | B- (94) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.0:1 | 14.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.1% ✓ Higher | 19.5% |
| High School or Higher | 78.6% | 90.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | GARLAND ISD | INDEPENDENCE 30 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.9°F ✓ Warmer | 37.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer | 86.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.8" ✓ Drier | 44.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" ✓ Less | 13.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 244,026 ✓ Larger | 122,218 |
| Median Age | 34.4 | 39.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.0% ✓ Higher | 60.5% |
| Under 18 | 25.8% ✓ More | 22.6% |
| Over 65 | 12.4% | 18.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Garland's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Independence's 93.3 (US average = 100).
Independence is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Garland leads 14 of 23 categories. Garland wins 14 and Independence wins 9. 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 Independence or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($229,000 vs $150,800 median home), income ($71,044 vs $57,415), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Garland, TX and Independence, MO are about 445 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.