Is Garland cheaper than Dallas?

No. Dallas is cheaper: typical rent is $1,472 a month versus $1,641 in Garland — 10% lower. Median household income is $76,320 in Garland compared with $70,518 in Dallas, so Garland has the stronger local pay picture.

Which city is safer, Garland or Dallas?

Garland is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 32 versus 109 in Dallas — 71% lower (100 is the national average). Citywide indexes still hide neighborhood variation, so walk the block you would actually rent.

Which city has better schools, Garland or Dallas?

School composites are close: A- in Garland and A- in Dallas. Tour specific campuses rather than picking a city on the letter grade alone.

New search

City comparison

Garland, TX vs Dallas, TX

Garland, TX versus Dallas, TX is a real move, not a trivia matchup. This comparison uses the same 2026 neighborhood report data we publish on each city page — typical rent, median household income, crime indexes, school composites, and typical weather — so you can see which city actually fits how you live, work, and spend. Typical rents sit near $1,641 a month in Garland and $1,472 in Dallas, and median household income lands at $76,320 versus $70,518. Open either city's full report when you want the block-level detail behind these headlines.

Garland takes job market, safety, and weather, while Dallas takes affordability. The widest gap is crime index, where Garland leads by 71% — the kind of spread you feel in a monthly budget or a nightly walk, not just on a chart. Read the category rows as a filter: if cheaper housing would change your life more than a stronger job market, weight rent first. If you are moving with kids, weight schools and crime. If you picked a city after one good weekend, use the weather and income rows to test whether that weekend survives a full year.

Numbers below are citywide, not a guarantee about the street you will actually live on. Two ZIP codes in Garland can feel further apart than Garland and Dallas do on paper. Use this page to pick a city, then use the Garland and Dallas reports to pick a neighborhood — and visit in the season you like least before you sign anything.

Full Garland report Full Dallas report

Garland, TX

Rent: $1,641/mo
Median income: $76,320
Crime index: 32
Schools: A-
Weather: 90°F

Dallas, TX

Rent: $1,472/mo
Median income: $70,518
Crime index: 109
Schools: A-
Weather: 91°F

Rent

10% cheaper

Dallas rent is 10% cheaper than Garland

Garland

$1,641/mo

Dallas

Winner

$1,472/mo

What this means for your life

Typical rent runs $1,472 a month in Dallas versus $1,641 in Garland, so Dallas is 10% cheaper. A meaningful but not dramatic gap. Factor it into your budget alongside salary differences between the two markets. Over a year the spread is about $2,028 — enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Dallas still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Garland.

Median income

8% higher

Garland's median income is 8% higher than Dallas

Garland

Winner

$76,320

Dallas

$70,518

What this means for your life

Median household income is $76,320 in Garland versus $70,518 in Dallas, so typical pay runs 8% higher in Garland — about $5,802 more household income a year. The income edge is modest. Treat it as extra negotiating context, not a reason to ignore rent, schools, or climate. Remote workers especially should not treat citywide pay as a personal raise if their employer will not localize salary.

Crime index

71% lower crime

Garland's crime index is 71% lower than Dallas

Garland

Winner

32 (100 = avg)

Dallas

109 (100 = avg)

What this means for your life

Garland's crime index is 32 versus 109 in Dallas (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 71% lower in Garland. That gap is meaningful day-to-day — it affects whether you feel comfortable walking at night, leaving your car on the street, or letting kids play outside unsupervised. Indexes still compress a lot of reality: a calmer city has blocks you would skip, and a higher-crime city has streets that feel neighborly at 10 p.m. On the everyday test of walking from the car to the door, Garland is the easier city. Dallas can still work if you pick the right pocket — just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.

School scores

Neck and neck

Garland and Dallas are about even on school scores.

Garland

A- · 84/100

Dallas

A- · 84/100

What this means for your life

School composites are effectively even (A- in Garland, A- in Dallas). For families with kids this is a warning if you assumed one city was obviously better — at this range the campus, not the city name, decides it. Tour the zoned elementary you would actually use.

Typical weather

4% more comfortable

Garland weather is 4% more comfortable than Dallas

Garland

Winner

90°F typical

Dallas

91°F typical

What this means for your life

Garland scores 4% more comfortable on this page's weather index, which rewards temperatures closer to a livable outdoor day. Typical temperatures sit around 90°F in Garland and 91°F in Dallas. Garland reads as hot, long summers; Dallas reads as hot, long summers. The comfort edge is real but not a personality transplant. If you already know you want Dallas's season, a modest index lead should not talk you out of it. If you are undecided, Garland is the city where the forecast fights you less.

Fit check

Who should choose Garland

Career-focused movers who want salary upside plus year-round outdoor access

It is also a match for career-focused movers who want salary upside and year-round outdoor access. Median household income runs 8% higher ($76,320), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two — around 90°F. That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.

Garland is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 71% lower than Dallas (32 vs a 100 national average). That gap shows up in how freely you walk at night and how much attention you spend on the car and the deadbolt.

Open the Garland report →

Fit check

Who should choose Dallas

People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Dallas

Dallas is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 10% cheaper here at about $1,472 a month. Choose Dallas if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.

Open the Dallas report →

Bottom line

Garland vs Dallas, called

If safety is your priority, Garland is the clear choice.

If cost of living matters more to you, Dallas pulls ahead.

For most movers comparing these two cities, Garland offers the better overall package.

Common questions

Garland vs Dallas FAQ

Is Garland cheaper than Dallas?: No. Dallas is cheaper: typical rent is $1,472 a month versus $1,641 in Garland — 10% lower. Median household income is $76,320 in Garland compared with $70,518 in Dallas, so Garland has the stronger local pay picture.
Which city is safer, Garland or Dallas?: Garland is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 32 versus 109 in Dallas — 71% lower (100 is the national average). Citywide indexes still hide neighborhood variation, so walk the block you would actually rent.
Which city has better schools, Garland or Dallas?: School composites are close: A- in Garland and A- in Dallas. Tour specific campuses rather than picking a city on the letter grade alone.

Ready to move to Garland?

Find apartments →Get a mortgage rate →

Next steps