Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Garland, TX
VS
Washington, DC
🏆 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
Washington
District of Columbia
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$101,722 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
244⚠ High
Population
670,587 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Garland, TX
Pros
Homes cost $476k less ($229,000 vs $705,000)
75% less violent crime than Washington
Rent averages $396/mo less ($1,421 vs $1,817)
Violent crime is well below the national average (232.7 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.9 pts lower (5.2%)
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 45°F
Cons
Median income trails Washington by $30,678/yr
Washington, DC
Pros
Households earn $30,678 more per year on average
More college-educated — 62.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 10.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $705,000
Violent crime (925.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,817/mo
Property crime (3588.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Garland
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 108.6 (100 = US avg)
Garland
Violent Crime
75% lower
232.7 vs 925.9 per 100k
Garland
Median Home Value
$476k less
$229,000 vs $705,000
Garland
Unemployment
1.9 pp lower
5.2% vs 7.1% unemployment
Garland
Summer Heat
4.5°F warmer
July avg high 94.3°F vs 89.8°F
Washington
Median Income
$30,678
$101,722 vs $71,044/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Garland, TX | Washington, DC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 108.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $229,000 ✓ Lower | $705,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,421⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,817⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,044 | $101,722 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.7 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 30.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 9.4% | 25.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 75 ✓ Safer | 215⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 61 ✓ Safer | 244⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 95 ✓ Safer | 171⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (89) | A (119) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.0:1 | 10.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.1% | 62.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 78.6% | 92.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | GARLAND ISD | District of Columbia Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.9°F ✓ Warmer | 44.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer | 89.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.8" ✓ Drier | 45.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" ✓ Less | 9.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 244,026 | 670,587 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.4 | 34.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.0% ✓ Higher | 41.4% |
| Under 18 | 25.8% ✓ More | 18.5% |
| Over 65 | 12.4% | 12.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Garland's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Washington's 108.6 (US average = 100).
Garland is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Garland leads 14 of 23 categories. Garland wins 14 and Washington 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 Washington or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($229,000 vs $705,000 median home), income ($71,044 vs $101,722), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Garland, TX and Washington, DC are about 1,170 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.