Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Garland, TX
VS
Pearland, TX
🏆 Pearland leads 15 of 23 categories
Garland
Texas
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,044
Violent Crime Index
61
Population
244,026 ✓ Larger
Pearland
Texas
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$111,123 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
25 ✓ Safer
Population
124,478
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Garland, TX
Pros
Homes cost $82k less ($229,000 vs $311,100)
Violent crime is well below the national average (232.7 vs 380/100k)
Rent averages $201/mo less ($1,421 vs $1,622)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Pearland by $40,079/yr
Higher unemployment (5.2% vs 3.2%)
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Pearland
Pearland, TX
Pros
Households earn $40,079 more per year on average
59% less violent crime than Garland
Violent crime is well below the national average (95.9 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.0 pts lower (3.2%)
More college-educated — 47.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 56°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $311,100
Higher rents — median is $1,622/mo
Longer commutes — 33.6 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Garland
Median Home Value
$82k less
$229,000 vs $311,100
Pearland
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 100.2 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Pearland
Median Income
$40,079
$111,123 vs $71,044/yr
Pearland
Violent Crime
59% lower
95.9 vs 232.7 per 100k
Pearland
Unemployment
2.0 pp lower
3.2% vs 5.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Garland, TX | Pearland, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High | 100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $229,000 ✓ Lower | $311,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,421⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,622⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,044 | $111,123 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High | 3.2% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.7 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 33.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 9.4% | 10.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 75 | 43 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 61 | 25 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 95 | 69 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (89) | A- (115) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.1% | 47.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 78.6% | 94.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | GARLAND ISD | PEARLAND ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.9°F | 64.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer | 93.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.8" ✓ Drier | 53.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 244,026 ✓ Larger | 124,478 |
| Median Age | 34.4 | 36.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.0% | 76.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 25.8% | 28.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.4% ✓ More | 11.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Garland's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Pearland's 100.2 (US average = 100).
Pearland is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Pearland leads 15 of 23 categories. Garland wins 8 and Pearland wins 15. 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 Pearland or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($229,000 vs $311,100 median home), income ($71,044 vs $111,123), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Garland, TX and Pearland, TX are about 244 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.