Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Garland, TX
VS
Los Angeles, CA
🏆 Los Angeles leads 12 of 23 categories
Garland
Texas
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,044
Violent Crime Index
61 ✓ Safer
Population
244,026
Los Angeles
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$76,244 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
192⚠ High
Population
3,881,041 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Garland, TX
Pros
Homes cost $594k less ($229,000 vs $822,600)
68% less violent crime than Los Angeles
Rent averages $370/mo less ($1,421 vs $1,791)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.5 pts lower (5.2%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (232.7 vs 380/100k)
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Los Angeles
Cons
Median income trails Los Angeles by $5,200/yr
Los Angeles, CA
Pros
More college-educated — 36.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 78°F vs 94°F
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 56°F
Households earn $5,200 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $822,600
Violent crime (728.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,791/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Garland
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Garland
Violent Crime
68% lower
232.7 vs 728.5 per 100k
Garland
Median Home Value
$594k less
$229,000 vs $822,600
Garland
Unemployment
2.5 pp lower
5.2% vs 7.7% unemployment
Garland
Summer Heat
16.3°F warmer
July avg high 94.3°F vs 78.0°F
Los Angeles
Median Income
$5,200
$76,244 vs $71,044/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Garland, TX | Los Angeles, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $229,000 ✓ Lower | $822,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,421⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,791⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,044 | $76,244 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.7 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 31.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 9.4% | 15.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 75 ✓ Safer | 143⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 61 ✓ Safer | 192⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 95 | 71 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (89) | B- (93) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.1% | 36.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 78.6% | 78.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | GARLAND ISD | Los Angeles Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.9°F | 66.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer | 78.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.8" | 14.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 244,026 | 3,881,041 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.4 | 36.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.0% ✓ Higher | 36.6% |
| Under 18 | 25.8% ✓ More | 19.7% |
| Over 65 | 12.4% | 13.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Garland's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Los Angeles's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Garland is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Los Angeles leads 12 of 23 categories. Garland wins 11 and Los Angeles 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 Los Angeles or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($229,000 vs $822,600 median home), income ($71,044 vs $76,244), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Garland, TX and Los Angeles, CA are about 1,255 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.