Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Garland, TX
VS
Kansas City, MO
🏆 Kansas City leads 14 of 23 categories
Garland
Texas
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,044 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
61 ✓ Safer
Population
244,026
Kansas City
Missouri
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$65,256
Violent Crime Index
407⚠ High
Population
505,958 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Garland, TX
Pros
85% less violent crime than Kansas City
Violent crime is well below the national average (232.7 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 40°F
Households earn $5,788 more per year on average
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,421/mo
Cost of living runs 10% higher than Kansas City
Longer commutes — 29.7 min average each way
Kansas City, MO
Pros
Rent averages $290/mo less ($1,131 vs $1,421)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 37.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Garland
Homes cost $20k less ($208,900 vs $229,000)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.3)
Cons
Violent crime (1547.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4676.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Garland by $5,788/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Garland
Median Income
$5,788
$71,044 vs $65,256/yr
Garland
Violent Crime
85% lower
232.7 vs 1547.1 per 100k
Garland
Summer Heat
4.1°F warmer
July avg high 94.3°F vs 90.2°F
Kansas City
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 93.3 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Kansas City
Median Home Value
$20k less
$208,900 vs $229,000
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Garland, TX | Kansas City, MO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High | 93.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $229,000 | $208,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,421⚠ High | $1,131 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,044 ✓ Higher | $65,256 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.7 min⚠ High | 22.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.4% | 12.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 75 ✓ Safer | 333⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 61 ✓ Safer | 407⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 95 ✓ Safer | 223⚠ 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 | 13.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.1% | 37.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 78.6% | 91.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | GARLAND ISD | KANSAS CITY 33 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.9°F ✓ Warmer | 39.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer | 90.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.8" | 38.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" ✓ Less | 11.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 244,026 | 505,958 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.4 | 35.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.0% ✓ Higher | 54.0% |
| Under 18 | 25.8% ✓ More | 22.4% |
| Over 65 | 12.4% | 13.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Garland's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Kansas City's 93.3 (US average = 100).
Kansas City is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Kansas City leads 14 of 23 categories. Garland wins 9 and Kansas City 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 Garland to Kansas City or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($229,000 vs $208,900 median home), income ($71,044 vs $65,256), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Garland, TX and Kansas City, MO are about 445 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.