Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Garland, TX
VS
Providence, RI
🏆 Garland leads 13 of 22 categories
Garland
Texas
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,044 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
61 ✓ Safer
Population
244,026 ✓ Larger
Providence
Rhode Island
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$61,365
Violent Crime Index
73
Population
189,715
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Garland, TX
Pros
16% less violent crime than Providence
Homes cost $64k less ($229,000 vs $293,000)
Violent crime is well below the national average (232.7 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.0 pts lower (5.2%)
Households earn $9,679 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 38°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,421/mo
Longer commutes — 29.7 min average each way
Cost of living runs 2% higher than Providence
Providence, RI
Pros
Rent averages $207/mo less ($1,214 vs $1,421)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 34.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 94°F
2% cheaper overall cost of living than Garland
Cons
Median income trails Garland by $9,679/yr
Higher unemployment (7.2% vs 5.2%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Garland
Median Income
$9,679
$71,044 vs $61,365/yr
Garland
Violent Crime
16% lower
232.7 vs 276.7 per 100k
Garland
Median Home Value
$64k less
$229,000 vs $293,000
Garland
Unemployment
2.0 pp lower
5.2% vs 7.2% unemployment
Garland
Summer Heat
10.7°F warmer
July avg high 94.3°F vs 83.6°F
Providence
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 100.9 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Garland, TX | Providence, RI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High | 100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $229,000 ✓ Lower | $293,000 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,421⚠ High | $1,214 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,044 ✓ Higher | $61,365 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.7 min⚠ High | 24.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.4% | 11.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 75 | 75 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 61 ✓ Safer | 73 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 95 | 79 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (89) | B- (95) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.0:1 | 14.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.1% | 34.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 78.6% | 82.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | GARLAND ISD | Providence |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.9°F ✓ Warmer | 38.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer | 83.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.8" ✓ Drier | 47.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" ✓ Less | 36.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 244,026 ✓ Larger | 189,715 |
| Median Age | 34.4 ✓ Older | 32.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.0% ✓ Higher | 39.9% |
| Under 18 | 25.8% ✓ More | 20.7% |
| Over 65 | 12.4% ✓ More | 11.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Garland's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Providence's 100.9 (US average = 100).
Providence is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Garland leads 13 of 22 categories. Garland wins 13 and Providence wins 9. 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 Providence or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($229,000 vs $293,000 median home), income ($71,044 vs $61,365), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Garland, TX and Providence, RI are about 1,508 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.