Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Garland, TX
VS
Riverside, 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
Riverside
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$83,448 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
155⚠ High
Population
316,076 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Garland, TX
Pros
Homes cost $257k less ($229,000 vs $485,500)
61% less violent crime than Riverside
Violent crime is well below the national average (232.7 vs 380/100k)
Rent averages $290/mo less ($1,421 vs $1,711)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (5.2%)
Smaller class sizes — 15.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Riverside by $12,404/yr
Riverside, CA
Pros
Households earn $12,404 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 56°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $485,500
Violent crime (589.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,711/mo
Property crime (2832.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Garland
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Garland
Violent Crime
61% lower
232.7 vs 589.7 per 100k
Garland
Median Home Value
$257k less
$229,000 vs $485,500
Garland
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
5.2% vs 6.1% unemployment
Riverside
Median Income
$12,404
$83,448 vs $71,044/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Garland, TX | Riverside, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 107.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $229,000 ✓ Lower | $485,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,421⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,711⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,044 | $83,448 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.7 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 31.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 9.4% ✓ Higher | 8.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 75 ✓ Safer | 147⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 61 ✓ Safer | 155⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 95 ✓ Safer | 135⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (89) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.1% | 24.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 78.6% | 82.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | GARLAND ISD | Riverside Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.9°F | 69.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 94.3°F | 95.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.8" | 10.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 244,026 | 316,076 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.4 ✓ Older | 32.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.0% ✓ Higher | 55.5% |
| Under 18 | 25.8% ✓ More | 23.6% |
| Over 65 | 12.4% ✓ More | 11.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Garland's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Riverside's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Garland is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Garland leads 15 of 23 categories. Garland wins 15 and Riverside 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 Riverside or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($229,000 vs $485,500 median home), income ($71,044 vs $83,448), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Garland, TX and Riverside, CA are about 1,197 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.