Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Garland, TX
VS
Tacoma, WA
🏆 Garland leads 14 of 23 categories
Garland
Texas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,044
Violent Crime Index
61 ✓ Safer
Population
244,026 ✓ Larger
Tacoma
Washington
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$79,085 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
280⚠ High
Population
219,234
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Garland, TX
Pros
Homes cost $186k less ($229,000 vs $415,300)
78% less violent crime than Tacoma
Violent crime is well below the national average (232.7 vs 380/100k)
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Tacoma
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 48°F
Smaller class sizes — 15.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Tacoma by $8,041/yr
Tacoma, WA
Pros
Households earn $8,041 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 94°F
More college-educated — 32.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $415,300
Violent crime (1063.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Property crime (5603.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Garland
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Garland
Violent Crime
78% lower
232.7 vs 1063.0 per 100k
Garland
Median Home Value
$186k less
$229,000 vs $415,300
Garland
Summer Heat
17.5°F warmer
July avg high 94.3°F vs 76.8°F
Tacoma
Median Income
$8,041
$79,085 vs $71,044/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Garland, TX | Tacoma, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 113.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $229,000 ✓ Lower | $415,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,421⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,489⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,044 | $79,085 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.7 min⚠ High | 29.6 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.4% | 12.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 75 ✓ Safer | 275⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 61 ✓ Safer | 280⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 95 ✓ Safer | 267⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (89) | B- (91) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.1% | 32.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 78.6% | 90.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | GARLAND ISD | Tacoma School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.9°F ✓ Warmer | 48.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer | 76.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.8" | 40.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" ✓ Less | 5.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 244,026 ✓ Larger | 219,234 |
| Median Age | 34.4 | 36.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.0% ✓ Higher | 56.8% |
| Under 18 | 25.8% ✓ More | 19.7% |
| Over 65 | 12.4% | 14.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Garland's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Tacoma's 113.0 (US average = 100).
Garland is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Garland leads 14 of 23 categories. Garland wins 14 and Tacoma 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 Tacoma or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($229,000 vs $415,300 median home), income ($71,044 vs $79,085), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Garland, TX and Tacoma, WA are about 1,674 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.