Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Garland, TX
VS
Tampa, FL
🏆 It's a dead heat — 11 categories each
Garland
Texas
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,044 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
61 ✓ Safer
Population
244,026
Tampa
Florida
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$66,802
Violent Crime Index
117⚠ High
Population
388,768 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Garland, TX
Pros
48% less violent crime than Tampa
Homes cost $104k less ($229,000 vs $333,200)
Violent crime is well below the national average (232.7 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $4,242 more per year on average
Smaller class sizes — 15.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Longer commutes — 29.7 min average each way
Tampa, FL
Pros
More college-educated — 43.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 56°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $333,200
Violent crime (444.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Garland by $4,242/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Garland
Median Income
$4,242
$71,044 vs $66,802/yr
Garland
Violent Crime
48% lower
232.7 vs 444.6 per 100k
Garland
Median Home Value
$104k less
$229,000 vs $333,200
Garland
Summer Heat
3.3°F warmer
July avg high 94.3°F vs 91.0°F
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 103.3 on the COL index
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Garland, TX | Tampa, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 103.4⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $229,000 ✓ Lower | $333,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,421⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,422⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,044 ✓ Higher | $66,802 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High | 5.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.7 min⚠ High | 24.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.4% | 16.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 75 ✓ Safer | 98 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 61 ✓ Safer | 117⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 95 | 70 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (89) | B (103) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.1% | 43.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 78.6% | 89.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | GARLAND ISD | HILLSBOROUGH |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.9°F | 71.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer | 91.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.8" ✓ Drier | 49.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 244,026 | 388,768 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.4 | 35.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.0% ✓ Higher | 50.5% |
| Under 18 | 25.8% ✓ More | 20.8% |
| Over 65 | 12.4% | 13.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Garland's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Tampa's 103.4 (US average = 100).
Garland is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. Garland wins 11 and Tampa wins 11. 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 Tampa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($229,000 vs $333,200 median home), income ($71,044 vs $66,802), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Garland, TX and Tampa, FL are about 909 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.