Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Garland, TX
VS
Palmdale, CA
🏆 Garland leads 15 of 23 categories
Garland
Texas
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,044
Violent Crime Index
61 ✓ Safer
Population
244,026 ✓ Larger
Palmdale
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$78,414 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
145⚠ High
Population
166,895
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Garland, TX
Pros
Homes cost $169k less ($229,000 vs $397,500)
58% less violent crime than Palmdale
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.2 pts lower (5.2%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (232.7 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 12 min shorter each way
Rent averages $204/mo less ($1,421 vs $1,625)
Cons
Median income trails Palmdale by $7,370/yr
Palmdale, CA
Pros
Households earn $7,370 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $397,500
Violent crime (551.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Higher rents — median is $1,625/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Garland
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Garland
Violent Crime
58% lower
232.7 vs 551.0 per 100k
Garland
Median Home Value
$169k less
$229,000 vs $397,500
Garland
Unemployment
2.2 pp lower
5.2% vs 7.4% unemployment
Palmdale
Median Income
$7,370
$78,414 vs $71,044/yr
Palmdale
Summer Heat
3.3°F warmer
July avg high 97.6°F vs 94.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Garland, TX | Palmdale, 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 | $397,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,421⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,625⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,044 | $78,414 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.7 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 41.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 9.4% ✓ Higher | 7.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 75 ✓ Safer | 123⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 61 ✓ Safer | 145⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 95 | 89 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (89) ✓ Better | C- (59) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.1% ✓ Higher | 16.7% |
| High School or Higher | 78.6% ✓ Higher | 76.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | GARLAND ISD | Palmdale Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.9°F | 59.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 94.3°F | 97.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.8" | 7.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 244,026 ✓ Larger | 166,895 |
| Median Age | 34.4 ✓ Older | 33.0 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.0% | 66.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 25.8% | 29.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.4% ✓ More | 10.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Garland's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Palmdale's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Garland is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Garland leads 15 of 23 categories. Garland wins 15 and Palmdale wins 8. 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 Palmdale or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($229,000 vs $397,500 median home), income ($71,044 vs $78,414), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Garland, TX and Palmdale, CA are about 1,237 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.