Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Garland, TX
VS
Little Rock, AR
🏆 Garland leads 12 of 22 categories
Garland
Texas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,044 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
61 ✓ Safer
Population
244,026 ✓ Larger
Little Rock
Arkansas
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,697
Violent Crime Index
440⚠ High
Population
202,218
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Garland, TX
Pros
86% less violent crime than Little Rock
Violent crime is well below the national average (232.7 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $12,347 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 51°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,421/mo
Cost of living runs 14% higher than Little Rock
Higher unemployment (5.2% vs 4.4%)
Longer commutes — 29.7 min average each way
Little Rock, AR
Pros
Rent averages $415/mo less ($1,006 vs $1,421)
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 44.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Garland
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (4.4%)
Homes cost $23k less ($205,800 vs $229,000)
Cons
Violent crime (1672.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Garland by $12,347/yr
Property crime (5214.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Garland
Median Income
$12,347
$71,044 vs $58,697/yr
Garland
Violent Crime
86% lower
232.7 vs 1672.0 per 100k
Little Rock
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 89.1 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Little Rock
Median Home Value
$23k less
$205,800 vs $229,000
Little Rock
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
4.4% vs 5.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Garland, TX | Little Rock, AR |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High | 89.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $229,000 | $205,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,421⚠ High | $1,006 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,044 ✓ Higher | $58,697 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.7 min⚠ High | 18.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.4% ✓ Higher | 8.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 75 ✓ Safer | 363⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 61 ✓ Safer | 440⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 95 ✓ Safer | 248⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (89) | B+ (104) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.0:1 | 15.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.1% | 44.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 78.6% | 92.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | GARLAND ISD | LITTLE ROCK SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.9°F ✓ Warmer | 50.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer | 91.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.8" ✓ Drier | 52.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" ✓ Less | 3.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 244,026 ✓ Larger | 202,218 |
| Median Age | 34.4 | 36.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.0% ✓ Higher | 54.4% |
| Under 18 | 25.8% ✓ More | 23.5% |
| Over 65 | 12.4% | 15.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Garland's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Little Rock's 89.1 (US average = 100).
Little Rock is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Garland leads 12 of 22 categories. Garland wins 12 and Little Rock 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 Little Rock or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($229,000 vs $205,800 median home), income ($71,044 vs $58,697), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Garland, TX and Little Rock, AR are about 275 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.