Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Garland, TX
VS
Roanoke, VA
🏆 Garland leads 12 of 23 categories
Garland
Texas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,044 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
61 ✓ Safer
Population
244,026 ✓ Larger
Roanoke
Virginia
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.9 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$51,523
Violent Crime Index
163⚠ High
Population
99,213
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Garland, TX
Pros
62% less violent crime than Roanoke
Households earn $19,521 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (232.7 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (5.2%)
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 47°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,421/mo
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Roanoke
Longer commutes — 29.7 min average each way
Roanoke, VA
Pros
Rent averages $504/mo less ($917 vs $1,421)
Homes cost $67k less ($162,000 vs $229,000)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Garland
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.9)
More college-educated — 28.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Garland by $19,521/yr
Violent crime (620.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4055.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.6% vs 5.2%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Garland
Median Income
$19,521
$71,044 vs $51,523/yr
Garland
Violent Crime
62% lower
232.7 vs 620.4 per 100k
Garland
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
5.2% vs 6.6% unemployment
Garland
Summer Heat
6.2°F warmer
July avg high 94.3°F vs 88.1°F
Roanoke
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 90.9 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Roanoke
Median Home Value
$67k less
$162,000 vs $229,000
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Garland, TX | Roanoke, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High | 90.9 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $229,000 | $162,000 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,421⚠ High | $917 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,044 ✓ Higher | $51,523 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.7 min⚠ High | 20.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.4% | 9.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 75 ✓ Safer | 175⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 61 ✓ Safer | 163⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 95 ✓ Safer | 193⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (89) | B (100) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.0:1 | 12.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.1% | 28.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 78.6% | 89.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | GARLAND ISD | Roanoke City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.9°F ✓ Warmer | 47.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer | 88.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.8" ✓ Drier | 42.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" ✓ Less | 14.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 244,026 ✓ Larger | 99,213 |
| Median Age | 34.4 | 38.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.0% ✓ Higher | 52.1% |
| Under 18 | 25.8% ✓ More | 22.2% |
| Over 65 | 12.4% | 17.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Garland's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Roanoke's 90.9 (US average = 100).
Roanoke is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Garland leads 12 of 23 categories. Garland wins 12 and Roanoke wins 11. 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 Roanoke or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($229,000 vs $162,000 median home), income ($71,044 vs $51,523), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Garland, TX and Roanoke, VA are about 988 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.