Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Garland, TX
VS
Santa Rosa, CA
🏆 Garland leads 12 of 23 categories
Garland
Texas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,044
Violent Crime Index
61 ✓ Safer
Population
244,026 ✓ Larger
Santa Rosa
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
110.1⚠ High
Median Household Income
$92,604 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
90
Population
178,221
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Garland, TX
Pros
Homes cost $433k less ($229,000 vs $661,700)
Rent averages $603/mo less ($1,421 vs $2,024)
32% less violent crime than Santa Rosa
Violent crime is well below the national average (232.7 vs 380/100k)
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Santa Rosa
Smaller class sizes — 15.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Santa Rosa by $21,560/yr
Longer commutes — 29.7 min average each way
Santa Rosa, CA
Pros
Households earn $21,560 more per year on average
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 34.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 94°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $661,700
Higher rents — median is $2,024/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 110.1)
Cost of living runs 7% higher than Garland
Key Differences at a Glance
Garland
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 110.1 (100 = US avg)
Garland
Violent Crime
32% lower
232.7 vs 342.6 per 100k
Garland
Median Home Value
$433k less
$229,000 vs $661,700
Garland
Summer Heat
12.7°F warmer
July avg high 94.3°F vs 81.6°F
Santa Rosa
Median Income
$21,560
$92,604 vs $71,044/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Garland, TX | Santa Rosa, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 110.1⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $229,000 ✓ Lower | $661,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,421⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,024⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,044 | $92,604 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.7 min⚠ High | 22.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.4% ✓ Higher | 8.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 75 ✓ Safer | 79 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 61 ✓ Safer | 90 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 95 | 63 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (89) | B- (90) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.1% | 34.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 78.6% | 85.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | GARLAND ISD | Rincon Valley Union Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.9°F | 59.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer | 81.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.8" | 31.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 244,026 ✓ Larger | 178,221 |
| Median Age | 34.4 | 40.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.0% ✓ Higher | 55.7% |
| Under 18 | 25.8% ✓ More | 20.5% |
| Over 65 | 12.4% | 18.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Garland's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Santa Rosa's 110.1 (US average = 100).
Garland is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Garland leads 12 of 23 categories. Garland wins 12 and Santa Rosa 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 Santa Rosa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($229,000 vs $661,700 median home), income ($71,044 vs $92,604), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Garland, TX and Santa Rosa, CA are about 1,507 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.