Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Garland, TX
VS
Lubbock, TX
🏆 Garland leads 12 of 23 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
Lubbock
Texas
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.9 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,734
Violent Crime Index
216⚠ High
Population
258,190 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Garland, TX
Pros
72% less violent crime than Lubbock
Violent crime is well below the national average (232.7 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $12,310 more per year on average
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,421/mo
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Lubbock
Longer commutes — 29.7 min average each way
Lubbock, TX
Pros
Rent averages $328/mo less ($1,093 vs $1,421)
Homes cost $47k less ($181,600 vs $229,000)
Commutes run 14 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (4.6%)
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Garland
More college-educated — 34.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Violent crime (821.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Garland by $12,310/yr
Property crime (2628.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Garland
Median Income
$12,310
$71,044 vs $58,734/yr
Garland
Violent Crime
72% lower
232.7 vs 821.0 per 100k
Lubbock
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 90.9 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Lubbock
Median Home Value
$47k less
$181,600 vs $229,000
Lubbock
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
4.6% vs 5.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Garland, TX | Lubbock, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High | 90.9 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $229,000 | $181,600 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,421⚠ High | $1,093 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,044 ✓ Higher | $58,734 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.7 min⚠ High | 16.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.4% ✓ Higher | 5.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 75 ✓ Safer | 180⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 61 ✓ Safer | 216⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 95 ✓ Safer | 125⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (89) | B+ (108) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.0:1 | 13.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.1% | 34.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 78.6% | 88.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | GARLAND ISD | LUBBOCK ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.9°F ✓ Warmer | 55.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer | 92.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.8" | 20.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" ✓ Less | 7.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 244,026 | 258,190 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.4 ✓ Older | 30.0 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.0% ✓ Higher | 51.0% |
| Under 18 | 25.8% ✓ More | 22.8% |
| Over 65 | 12.4% ✓ More | 12.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Garland's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Lubbock's 90.9 (US average = 100).
Lubbock is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Garland leads 12 of 23 categories. Garland wins 12 and Lubbock wins 11. 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 Lubbock or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($229,000 vs $181,600 median home), income ($71,044 vs $58,734), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Garland, TX and Lubbock, TX are about 307 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.