Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Garland, TX
VS
Renton, WA
🏆 Garland leads 15 of 22 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
Renton
Washington
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$92,292 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
89
Population
105,355
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Garland, TX
Pros
Homes cost $348k less ($229,000 vs $576,800)
31% less violent crime than Renton
Rent averages $443/mo less ($1,421 vs $1,864)
Violent crime is well below the national average (232.7 vs 380/100k)
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Renton
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 48°F
Cons
Median income trails Renton by $21,248/yr
Higher unemployment (5.2% vs 4.2%)
Renton, WA
Pros
Households earn $21,248 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (4.2%)
More college-educated — 36.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 94°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $576,800
Higher rents — median is $1,864/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Property crime (3313.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Garland
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Garland
Violent Crime
31% lower
232.7 vs 339.2 per 100k
Garland
Median Home Value
$348k less
$229,000 vs $576,800
Garland
Summer Heat
17.1°F warmer
July avg high 94.3°F vs 77.2°F
Renton
Median Income
$21,248
$92,292 vs $71,044/yr
Renton
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
4.2% vs 5.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Garland, TX | Renton, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 113.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $229,000 ✓ Lower | $576,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,421⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,864⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,044 | $92,292 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.7 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 30.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 9.4% | 16.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 75 ✓ Safer | 117⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 61 ✓ Safer | 89 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 95 ✓ Safer | 158⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (89) | B- (93) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.1% | 36.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 78.6% | 89.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | GARLAND ISD | Renton School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.9°F ✓ Warmer | 48.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer | 77.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.8" ✓ Drier | 44.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" ✓ Less | 6.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 244,026 ✓ Larger | 105,355 |
| Median Age | 34.4 | 36.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.0% ✓ Higher | 53.6% |
| Under 18 | 25.8% ✓ More | 20.6% |
| Over 65 | 12.4% | 12.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Garland's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Renton's 113.0 (US average = 100).
Garland is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Garland leads 15 of 22 categories. Garland wins 15 and Renton wins 7. 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 Renton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($229,000 vs $576,800 median home), income ($71,044 vs $92,292), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Garland, TX and Renton, WA are about 1,670 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.