Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Garland, TX
VS
McAllen, TX
🏆 McAllen leads 18 of 23 categories
Garland
Texas
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,044 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
61
Population
244,026 ✓ Larger
McAllen
Texas
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
85.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$56,326
Violent Crime Index
39 ✓ Safer
Population
142,722
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Garland, TX
Pros
Households earn $14,718 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (232.7 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,421/mo
Cost of living runs 18% higher than McAllen
Longer commutes — 29.7 min average each way
McAllen, TX
Pros
Rent averages $466/mo less ($955 vs $1,421)
Homes cost $70k less ($158,700 vs $229,000)
36% less violent crime than Garland
Violent crime is well below the national average (150.0 vs 380/100k)
18% cheaper overall cost of living than Garland
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Garland by $14,718/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Garland
Median Income
$14,718
$71,044 vs $56,326/yr
McAllen
Cost of Living
18% cheaper
COL index 85.6 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
McAllen
Violent Crime
36% lower
150.0 vs 232.7 per 100k
McAllen
Median Home Value
$70k less
$158,700 vs $229,000
McAllen
Summer Heat
3.2°F warmer
July avg high 97.5°F vs 94.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Garland, TX | McAllen, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High | 85.6 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $229,000 | $158,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,421⚠ High | $955 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,044 ✓ Higher | $56,326 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.7 min⚠ High | 21.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.4% | 9.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 75 | 59 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 61 | 39 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 95 | 87 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (89) | B+ (104) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.0:1 | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.1% | 31.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 78.6% | 78.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | GARLAND ISD | MCALLEN ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.9°F | 71.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 94.3°F | 97.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.8" | 27.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" | 0.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 244,026 ✓ Larger | 142,722 |
| Median Age | 34.4 ✓ Older | 32.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.0% ✓ Higher | 59.4% |
| Under 18 | 25.8% | 28.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.4% | 13.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Garland's cost of living index is 103.3 vs McAllen's 85.6 (US average = 100).
McAllen is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, McAllen leads 18 of 23 categories. Garland wins 5 and McAllen wins 18. 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 McAllen or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($229,000 vs $158,700 median home), income ($71,044 vs $56,326), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Garland, TX and McAllen, TX are about 472 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.