Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Garland, TX
VS
Sunnyvale, CA
🏆 Sunnyvale leads 13 of 22 categories
Garland
Texas
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,044
Violent Crime Index
61 ✓ Safer
Population
244,026 ✓ Larger
Sunnyvale
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$174,506 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
64
Population
154,573
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Garland, TX
Pros
Homes cost $1452k less ($229,000 vs $1,680,700)
Rent averages $1569/mo less ($1,421 vs $2,990)
Violent crime is well below the national average (232.7 vs 380/100k)
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Sunnyvale
Smaller class sizes — 15.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Sunnyvale by $103,462/yr
Higher unemployment (5.2% vs 4.1%)
Longer commutes — 29.7 min average each way
Sunnyvale, CA
Pros
Households earn $103,462 more per year on average
More college-educated — 68.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (244.5 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (4.1%)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 94°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,680,700
Higher rents — median is $2,990/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.9)
Cost of living runs 10% higher than Garland
Key Differences at a Glance
Garland
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 112.9 (100 = US avg)
Garland
Violent Crime
5% lower
232.7 vs 244.5 per 100k
Garland
Median Home Value
$1452k less
$229,000 vs $1,680,700
Garland
Summer Heat
17.4°F warmer
July avg high 94.3°F vs 76.9°F
Sunnyvale
Median Income
$103,462
$174,506 vs $71,044/yr
Sunnyvale
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
4.1% vs 5.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Garland, TX | Sunnyvale, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 112.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $229,000 ✓ Lower | $1,680,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,421⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,990⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,044 | $174,506 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High | 4.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.7 min⚠ High | 23.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.4% | 24.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 75 | 75 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 61 ✓ Safer | 64 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 95 | 91 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (89) | A- (112) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.1% | 68.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 78.6% | 94.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | GARLAND ISD | Cupertino Union |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.9°F | 59.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer | 76.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.8" | 13.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 244,026 ✓ Larger | 154,573 |
| Median Age | 34.4 | 35.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.0% ✓ Higher | 44.4% |
| Under 18 | 25.8% ✓ More | 19.9% |
| Over 65 | 12.4% | 12.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Garland's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Sunnyvale's 112.9 (US average = 100).
Garland is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Sunnyvale leads 13 of 22 categories. Garland wins 9 and Sunnyvale wins 13. 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 Sunnyvale or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($229,000 vs $1,680,700 median home), income ($71,044 vs $174,506), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Garland, TX and Sunnyvale, CA are about 1,463 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.