Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Garland, TX
VS
Mission Viejo, CA
🏆 Mission Viejo leads 16 of 23 categories
Garland
Texas
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,044
Violent Crime Index
61
Population
244,026 ✓ Larger
Mission Viejo
California
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$136,570 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
26 ✓ Safer
Population
93,233
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Garland, TX
Pros
Homes cost $655k less ($229,000 vs $883,600)
Rent averages $1201/mo less ($1,421 vs $2,622)
Violent crime is well below the national average (232.7 vs 380/100k)
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Mission Viejo
Smaller class sizes — 15.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Mission Viejo by $65,526/yr
Higher unemployment (5.2% vs 4.4%)
Mission Viejo, CA
Pros
Households earn $65,526 more per year on average
57% less violent crime than Garland
More college-educated — 51.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (99.2 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (4.4%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 80°F vs 94°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $883,600
Higher rents — median is $2,622/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Garland
Key Differences at a Glance
Garland
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Garland
Median Home Value
$655k less
$229,000 vs $883,600
Garland
Summer Heat
14.8°F warmer
July avg high 94.3°F vs 79.5°F
Mission Viejo
Median Income
$65,526
$136,570 vs $71,044/yr
Mission Viejo
Violent Crime
57% lower
99.2 vs 232.7 per 100k
Mission Viejo
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
4.4% vs 5.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Garland, TX | Mission Viejo, 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 | $883,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,421⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,622⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,044 | $136,570 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.7 min⚠ High | 27.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.4% | 18.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 75 | 38 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 61 | 26 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 95 | 56 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (89) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.1% | 51.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 78.6% | 94.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | GARLAND ISD | Saddleback Valley Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.9°F | 68.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer | 79.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.8" | 15.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 244,026 ✓ Larger | 93,233 |
| Median Age | 34.4 | 46.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.0% | 77.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 25.8% ✓ More | 19.7% |
| Over 65 | 12.4% | 22.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Garland's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Mission Viejo's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Garland is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Mission Viejo leads 16 of 23 categories. Garland wins 7 and Mission Viejo 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 Mission Viejo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($229,000 vs $883,600 median home), income ($71,044 vs $136,570), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Garland, TX and Mission Viejo, CA are about 1,214 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.