Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Garland, TX
VS
San Tan Valley, AZ
🏆 San Tan Valley leads 14 of 23 categories
Garland
Texas
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,044
Violent Crime Index
61 ✓ Safer
Population
244,026 ✓ Larger
San Tan Valley
Arizona
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$88,466 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
62
Population
101,207
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Garland, TX
Pros
Homes cost $75k less ($229,000 vs $304,000)
Violent crime is well below the national average (232.7 vs 380/100k)
Rent averages $308/mo less ($1,421 vs $1,729)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 94°F vs 104°F
Smaller class sizes — 15.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails San Tan Valley by $17,422/yr
Higher unemployment (5.2% vs 4.5%)
Cost of living runs 3% higher than San Tan Valley
San Tan Valley, AZ
Pros
Households earn $17,422 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (235.7 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (4.5%)
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 56°F
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Garland
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,729/mo
Longer commutes — 36.2 min average each way
Hot summers — July highs average 104°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Garland
Median Home Value
$75k less
$229,000 vs $304,000
San Tan Valley
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 100.0 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
San Tan Valley
Median Income
$17,422
$88,466 vs $71,044/yr
San Tan Valley
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
4.5% vs 5.2% unemployment
San Tan Valley
Summer Heat
9.9°F warmer
July avg high 104.2°F vs 94.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Garland, TX | San Tan Valley, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High | 100.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $229,000 ✓ Lower | $304,000 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,421⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,729⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,044 | $88,466 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High | 4.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.7 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 36.2 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 9.4% | 13.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 75 | 56 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 61 ✓ Safer | 62 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 95 | 46 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (89) ✓ Better | C+ (83) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.1% ✓ Higher | 22.0% |
| High School or Higher | 78.6% | 92.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | GARLAND ISD | J O Combs Unified School District (4445) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.9°F | 65.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 94.3°F | 104.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.8" | 8.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 244,026 ✓ Larger | 101,207 |
| Median Age | 34.4 | 34.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.0% | 80.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 25.8% | 28.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.4% ✓ More | 11.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Garland's cost of living index is 103.3 vs San Tan Valley's 100.0 (US average = 100).
San Tan Valley is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, San Tan Valley leads 14 of 23 categories. Garland wins 9 and San Tan Valley wins 14. 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 San Tan Valley or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($229,000 vs $304,000 median home), income ($71,044 vs $88,466), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Garland, TX and San Tan Valley, AZ are about 864 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.