Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Garland, TX
VS
Meridian, ID
🏆 Meridian leads 16 of 23 categories
Garland
Texas
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,044
Violent Crime Index
61
Population
244,026 ✓ Larger
Meridian
Idaho
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$93,296 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
39 ✓ Safer
Population
119,872
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Garland, TX
Pros
Homes cost $197k less ($229,000 vs $425,800)
Violent crime is well below the national average (232.7 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 39°F
Rent averages $127/mo less ($1,421 vs $1,548)
Smaller class sizes — 15.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Meridian by $22,252/yr
Higher unemployment (5.2% vs 2.7%)
Cost of living runs 10% higher than Meridian
Longer commutes — 29.7 min average each way
Meridian, ID
Pros
37% less violent crime than Garland
Households earn $22,252 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.5 pts lower (2.7%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (146.8 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 43.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $425,800
Higher rents — median is $1,548/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Garland
Median Home Value
$197k less
$229,000 vs $425,800
Meridian
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 93.4 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Meridian
Median Income
$22,252
$93,296 vs $71,044/yr
Meridian
Violent Crime
37% lower
146.8 vs 232.7 per 100k
Meridian
Unemployment
2.5 pp lower
2.7% vs 5.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Garland, TX | Meridian, ID |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High | 93.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $229,000 ✓ Lower | $425,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,421⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,548⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,044 | $93,296 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High | 2.7% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.7 min⚠ High | 22.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.4% | 14.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 75 | 34 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 61 | 39 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 95 | 27 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (89) | B (103) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.1% | 43.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 78.6% | 96.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | GARLAND ISD | JOINT SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 2 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.9°F ✓ Warmer | 38.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer | 92.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.8" | 12.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" ✓ Less | 18.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 244,026 ✓ Larger | 119,872 |
| Median Age | 34.4 | 37.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.0% | 76.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 25.8% | 27.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.4% | 13.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Garland's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Meridian's 93.4 (US average = 100).
Meridian is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Meridian leads 16 of 23 categories. Garland wins 7 and Meridian wins 16. 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 Meridian or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($229,000 vs $425,800 median home), income ($71,044 vs $93,296), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Garland, TX and Meridian, ID are about 1,297 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.