Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Garland, TX
VS
Santa Clarita, CA
🏆 Santa Clarita leads 12 of 22 categories
Garland
Texas
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,044
Violent Crime Index
61
Population
244,026 ✓ Larger
Santa Clarita
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$116,186 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
44 ✓ Safer
Population
225,850
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Garland, TX
Pros
Homes cost $440k less ($229,000 vs $669,200)
Rent averages $894/mo less ($1,421 vs $2,315)
Violent crime is well below the national average (232.7 vs 380/100k)
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Santa Clarita
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Smaller class sizes — 15.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Santa Clarita by $45,142/yr
Santa Clarita, CA
Pros
Households earn $45,142 more per year on average
29% less violent crime than Garland
Violent crime is well below the national average (165.4 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 38.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 63°F vs 56°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $669,200
Higher rents — median is $2,315/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Garland
Key Differences at a Glance
Garland
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Garland
Median Home Value
$440k less
$229,000 vs $669,200
Santa Clarita
Median Income
$45,142
$116,186 vs $71,044/yr
Santa Clarita
Violent Crime
29% lower
165.4 vs 232.7 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Garland, TX | Santa Clarita, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $229,000 ✓ Lower | $669,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,421⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,315⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,044 | $116,186 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.7 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 35.2 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 9.4% | 13.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 75 | 49 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 61 | 44 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 95 | 56 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (89) ✓ Better | C+ (84) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 26.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.1% | 38.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 78.6% | 91.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | GARLAND ISD | Saugus Union |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.9°F | 63.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer | 94.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.8" | 15.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" | 0.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 244,026 ✓ Larger | 225,850 |
| Median Age | 34.4 | 37.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.0% | 71.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 25.8% ✓ More | 25.4% |
| Over 65 | 12.4% | 12.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Garland's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Santa Clarita's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Garland is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Santa Clarita leads 12 of 22 categories. Garland wins 10 and Santa Clarita wins 12. 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 Santa Clarita or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($229,000 vs $669,200 median home), income ($71,044 vs $116,186), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Garland, TX and Santa Clarita, CA are about 1,259 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.