Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Garland, TX
VS
Kirkland, WA
🏆 Kirkland leads 12 of 21 categories
Garland
Texas
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,044
Violent Crime Index
61
Population
244,026 ✓ Larger
Kirkland
Washington
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$135,608 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
16 ✓ Safer
Population
92,015
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Garland, TX
Pros
Homes cost $709k less ($229,000 vs $937,700)
Rent averages $829/mo less ($1,421 vs $2,250)
Violent crime is well below the national average (232.7 vs 380/100k)
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Kirkland
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 47°F
Cons
Median income trails Kirkland by $64,564/yr
Longer commutes — 29.7 min average each way
Kirkland, WA
Pros
Households earn $64,564 more per year on average
74% less violent crime than Garland
More college-educated — 62.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (60.6 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (4.7%)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $937,700
Higher rents — median is $2,250/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Cost of living runs 10% higher than Garland
Key Differences at a Glance
Garland
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Garland
Median Home Value
$709k less
$229,000 vs $937,700
Garland
Summer Heat
17.8°F warmer
July avg high 94.3°F vs 76.5°F
Kirkland
Median Income
$64,564
$135,608 vs $71,044/yr
Kirkland
Violent Crime
74% lower
60.6 vs 232.7 per 100k
Kirkland
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
4.7% vs 5.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Garland, TX | Kirkland, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 113.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $229,000 ✓ Lower | $937,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,421⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,250⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,044 | $135,608 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.7 min⚠ High | 25.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.4% | 24.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 75 | 48 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 61 | 16 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 95 ✓ Safer | 96 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (89) | C+ (89) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.0:1 | — |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.1% | 62.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 78.6% | 96.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | GARLAND ISD | Lake Washington Institute of Technology |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.9°F ✓ Warmer | 47.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer | 76.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.8" | 37.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" ✓ Less | 3.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 244,026 ✓ Larger | 92,015 |
| Median Age | 34.4 | 38.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.0% | 62.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 25.8% ✓ More | 20.0% |
| Over 65 | 12.4% | 14.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Garland's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Kirkland's 113.0 (US average = 100).
Garland is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Kirkland leads 12 of 21 categories. Garland wins 9 and Kirkland wins 12. 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 Kirkland or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($229,000 vs $937,700 median home), income ($71,044 vs $135,608), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Garland, TX and Kirkland, WA are about 1,678 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.