Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Garland, TX
VS
Spokane Valley, WA
🏆 Garland leads 14 of 23 categories
Garland
Texas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,044 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
61 ✓ Safer
Population
244,026 ✓ Larger
Spokane Valley
Washington
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$66,483
Violent Crime Index
64
Population
103,761
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Garland, TX
Pros
Homes cost $79k less ($229,000 vs $307,700)
Violent crime is well below the national average (232.7 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (5.2%)
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 38°F
Households earn $4,561 more per year on average
Smaller class sizes — 15.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,421/mo
Longer commutes — 29.7 min average each way
Cost of living runs 2% higher than Spokane Valley
Spokane Valley, WA
Pros
Violent crime is well below the national average (242.1 vs 380/100k)
Rent averages $246/mo less ($1,175 vs $1,421)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 94°F
2% cheaper overall cost of living than Garland
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $307,700
Property crime (3515.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Garland by $4,561/yr
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Garland
Median Income
$4,561
$71,044 vs $66,483/yr
Garland
Median Home Value
$79k less
$229,000 vs $307,700
Garland
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
5.2% vs 5.8% unemployment
Garland
Summer Heat
7.2°F warmer
July avg high 94.3°F vs 87.1°F
Spokane Valley
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 101.0 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Garland, TX | Spokane Valley, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High | 101.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $229,000 ✓ Lower | $307,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,421⚠ High | $1,175 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,044 ✓ Higher | $66,483 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.7 min⚠ High | 20.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.4% | 10.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 75 ✓ Safer | 105⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 61 ✓ Safer | 64 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 95 ✓ Safer | 167⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (89) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.1% | 25.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 78.6% | 94.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | GARLAND ISD | East Valley School District (Spokane) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.9°F ✓ Warmer | 37.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer | 87.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.8" | 17.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" ✓ Less | 45.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 244,026 ✓ Larger | 103,761 |
| Median Age | 34.4 | 37.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.0% ✓ Higher | 57.7% |
| Under 18 | 25.8% ✓ More | 21.7% |
| Over 65 | 12.4% | 17.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Garland's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Spokane Valley's 101.0 (US average = 100).
Spokane Valley is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Garland leads 14 of 23 categories. Garland wins 14 and Spokane Valley wins 9. 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 Spokane Valley or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($229,000 vs $307,700 median home), income ($71,044 vs $66,483), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Garland, TX and Spokane Valley, WA are about 1,481 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.