Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Garland, TX
VS
Scottsdale, AZ
🏆 Scottsdale leads 17 of 23 categories
Garland
Texas
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,044
Violent Crime Index
61
Population
244,026 ✓ Larger
Scottsdale
Arizona
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$104,197 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
40 ✓ Safer
Population
240,537
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Garland, TX
Pros
Homes cost $423k less ($229,000 vs $651,800)
Rent averages $347/mo less ($1,421 vs $1,768)
Violent crime is well below the national average (232.7 vs 380/100k)
Cooler summers — July highs near 94°F vs 99°F
Cons
Median income trails Scottsdale by $33,153/yr
Higher unemployment (5.2% vs 3.5%)
Longer commutes — 29.7 min average each way
Scottsdale, AZ
Pros
Households earn $33,153 more per year on average
34% less violent crime than Garland
More college-educated — 61.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (152.5 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.7 pts lower (3.5%)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $651,800
Higher rents — median is $1,768/mo
Hot summers — July highs average 99°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Garland
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 104.0 (100 = US avg)
Garland
Median Home Value
$423k less
$229,000 vs $651,800
Scottsdale
Median Income
$33,153
$104,197 vs $71,044/yr
Scottsdale
Violent Crime
34% lower
152.5 vs 232.7 per 100k
Scottsdale
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
3.5% vs 5.2% unemployment
Scottsdale
Summer Heat
5.1°F warmer
July avg high 99.4°F vs 94.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Garland, TX | Scottsdale, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 104.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $229,000 ✓ Lower | $651,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,421⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,768⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,044 | $104,197 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High | 3.5% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.7 min⚠ High | 21.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.4% | 26.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 75 | 60 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 61 | 40 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 95 | 89 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (89) | A- (116) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.1% | 61.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 78.6% | 97.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | GARLAND ISD | Scottsdale Unified District (4240) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.9°F | 63.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 94.3°F | 99.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.8" | 11.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 244,026 ✓ Larger | 240,537 |
| Median Age | 34.4 | 48.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.0% | 67.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 25.8% ✓ More | 14.3% |
| Over 65 | 12.4% | 25.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Garland's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Scottsdale's 104.0 (US average = 100).
Garland is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Scottsdale leads 17 of 23 categories. Garland wins 6 and Scottsdale wins 17. 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 Scottsdale or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($229,000 vs $651,800 median home), income ($71,044 vs $104,197), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Garland, TX and Scottsdale, AZ are about 880 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.