City comparison
No. Garland's crime index is 87 versus 143 in Anaheim, and its violent crime index is 62 versus 165, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Garland is cheaper. Median rent is $1,641 a month versus $2,175 in Anaheim.
Safety is where Anaheim and Garland split most clearly. Garland scores 56 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $2,175 in Anaheim and $1,641 in Garland.
This is a genuine split. Anaheim wins on the job market and Garland wins on cost of living and safety. Which matters more depends entirely on how you live: remote workers and families weight these categories differently than commuters or single professionals.
The rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. Garland at $1,641 average has pockets that run $1,441 and others at $2,041: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Anaheim and Garland are 1,227 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $2,175 a month in Anaheim to $1,641 a month in Garland, down $534 a month (25%).
Median household income goes from $95,227 in Anaheim to $76,320 in Garland, down $18,907 (20%).
The crime index goes from 143 in Anaheim to 87 in Garland, down 56 points (39%).
The move
Garland and Anaheim are 1,227 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,641 a month in Garland to $2,175 a month in Anaheim, up $534 a month (33%).
Median household income goes from $76,320 in Garland to $95,227 in Anaheim, up $18,907 (25%).
The crime index goes from 87 in Garland to 143 in Anaheim, up 56 points (64%).
Anaheim, CA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Garland, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Anaheim and Garland? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
25% cheaper
Garland rent is 25% cheaper than Anaheim
Anaheim
$2,175/mo
Garland
Winner$1,641/mo
Typical rent runs $1,641 a month in Garland versus $2,175 in Anaheim, so Garland is 25% cheaper. That's roughly $534/month back in your pocket ($6,408/year). Over five years that's $32,040 you could redirect toward a down payment, travel, or investments. Housing is the bill you pay before groceries, childcare, or a social life, so that gap shows up in how often you eat out and how panicked a rent hike feels. If you already have a high-paying offer in Anaheim, the extra rent can be rational. If you do not, Garland is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.
Planning to buy in Garland? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
25% higher
Anaheim's median income is 25% higher than Garland
Anaheim
Winner$95,227
Garland
$76,320
Median household income is $95,227 in Anaheim versus $76,320 in Garland, so typical pay runs 25% higher in Anaheim (about $18,907 more household income a year). Higher median income usually signals a stronger local job market and better negotiating leverage on salary. Remote workers should weigh this against cost of living rather than treating it as a direct personal benefit. For people who will actually work in town, Anaheim is the stronger labor market on paper. Garland can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
39% lower crime
Garland's crime index is 39% lower than Anaheim
Anaheim
143 (100 = avg)
Garland
Winner87 (100 = avg)
Garland's crime index is 87 versus 143 in Anaheim (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 39% 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. Anaheim can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
Neck and neck
Anaheim and Garland are about even on typical weather.
Anaheim
76°F avg · 83°F highs · comfort 100/100
Garland
66°F avg · 73°F highs · comfort 100/100
Anaheim averages about 76°F (83°F highs); Garland averages about 66°F (73°F highs). Anaheim sits near 76°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Garland sits near 66°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. On daily comfort these two are close enough that the better fit is whichever season you already know you can live with.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Anaheim is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 25% higher here ($95,227). Start with Anaheim if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Fit check
Families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy
Garland is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 25% cheaper here at about $1,641 a month. Choose Garland if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Garland is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 39% lower than Anaheim (87 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.
Bottom line
Neither city is a free pass on neighborhood choice, but Garland leads on safety (64/100 vs 49/100 in Anaheim). Typical rent is $1,641 in Garland and $2,175 in Anaheim; do not assume the cheaper lease buys the calmer blocks.
Anaheim still pays more locally ($95,227 median income vs $76,320), which can offset the lease if your field pays Anaheim rates.
Median income is $95,227 in Anaheim versus $76,320 in Garland.
Between Anaheim and Garland, Garland is ahead on safety — 64/100 safety versus 49/100. Lean Anaheim instead when you already know the Anaheim block you would live on and the safety gap is acceptable.
Common questions
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Nearby research
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