Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Garland, TX
VS
St. Paul, MN
🏆 Garland leads 13 of 23 categories
Garland
Texas
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,044 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
61 ✓ Safer
Population
244,026
St. Paul
Minnesota
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$69,919
Violent Crime Index
163⚠ High
Population
308,806 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Garland, TX
Pros
62% less violent crime than St. Paul
Violent crime is well below the national average (232.7 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 24°F
Homes cost $36k less ($229,000 vs $264,900)
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,421/mo
Longer commutes — 29.7 min average each way
St. Paul, MN
Pros
Rent averages $247/mo less ($1,174 vs $1,421)
More college-educated — 42.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 94°F
Cons
Violent crime (617.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2834.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 40" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Garland
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 104.5 (100 = US avg)
Garland
Median Income
$1,125
$71,044 vs $69,919/yr
Garland
Violent Crime
62% lower
232.7 vs 617.7 per 100k
Garland
Median Home Value
$36k less
$229,000 vs $264,900
Garland
Summer Heat
11.7°F warmer
July avg high 94.3°F vs 82.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Garland, TX | St. Paul, MN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 104.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $229,000 ✓ Lower | $264,900 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,421⚠ High | $1,174 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,044 ✓ Higher | $69,919 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.7 min⚠ High | 23.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.4% | 15.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 75 ✓ Safer | 152⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 61 ✓ Safer | 163⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 95 ✓ Safer | 135⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (89) | B+ (104) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.0:1 | 14.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.1% | 42.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 78.6% | 88.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | GARLAND ISD | Saint Paul Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.9°F ✓ Warmer | 23.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer | 82.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.8" | 29.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" ✓ Less | 40.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 244,026 | 308,806 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.4 ✓ Older | 33.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.0% ✓ Higher | 53.0% |
| Under 18 | 25.8% ✓ More | 24.0% |
| Over 65 | 12.4% ✓ More | 11.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Garland's cost of living index is 103.3 vs St. Paul's 104.5 (US average = 100).
Garland is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Garland leads 13 of 23 categories. Garland wins 13 and St. Paul wins 10. 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 St. Paul or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($229,000 vs $264,900 median home), income ($71,044 vs $69,919), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Garland, TX and St. Paul, MN are about 853 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.