Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Garland, TX
VS
Tracy, CA
🏆 Garland leads 12 of 22 categories
Garland
Texas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,044
Violent Crime Index
61 ✓ Safer
Population
244,026 ✓ Larger
Tracy
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$111,717 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
79
Population
94,027
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Garland, TX
Pros
Homes cost $388k less ($229,000 vs $617,300)
Rent averages $741/mo less ($1,421 vs $2,162)
23% less violent crime than Tracy
Commutes run 14 min shorter each way
Violent crime is well below the national average (232.7 vs 380/100k)
Smaller class sizes — 15.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Tracy by $40,673/yr
Tracy, CA
Pros
Households earn $40,673 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $617,300
Higher rents — median is $2,162/mo
Longer commutes — 43.5 min average each way
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Garland
Key Differences at a Glance
Garland
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 107.4 (100 = US avg)
Garland
Violent Crime
23% lower
232.7 vs 301.4 per 100k
Garland
Median Home Value
$388k less
$229,000 vs $617,300
Tracy
Median Income
$40,673
$111,717 vs $71,044/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Garland, TX | Tracy, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 107.4⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $229,000 ✓ Lower | $617,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,421⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,162⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,044 | $111,717 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.7 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 43.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 9.4% | 11.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 75 ✓ Safer | 78 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 61 ✓ Safer | 79 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 95 | 76 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (89) ✓ Better | C- (71) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.1% | 24.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 78.6% | 83.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | GARLAND ISD | Jefferson Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.9°F | 57.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer | 93.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.8" | 12.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 244,026 ✓ Larger | 94,027 |
| Median Age | 34.4 | 34.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.0% | 64.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 25.8% | 26.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.4% ✓ More | 9.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Garland's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Tracy's 107.4 (US average = 100).
Garland is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Garland leads 12 of 22 categories. Garland wins 12 and Tracy 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 Tracy or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($229,000 vs $617,300 median home), income ($71,044 vs $111,717), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Garland, TX and Tracy, CA are about 1,434 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.