City comparison
No. Garland's crime index is 87 versus 240 in Anchorage, and its violent crime index is 62 versus 295, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Anchorage is cheaper. Median rent is $1,489 a month versus $1,641 in Garland.
Climate is the sharpest divide between Anchorage and Garland. Anchorage averages 37°F while Garland averages 66°F, a difference that affects utility bills, outdoor lifestyle, and how you feel nine months of the year. Rent runs $1,489 versus $1,641.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Anchorage is the easier city on typical rent, but Garland can still be the better daily fit depending on schools, safety, and climate. Both are defensible choices for different reasons.
The crime gap is citywide. Garland has rougher pockets and Anchorage has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Anchorage and Garland are 3,048 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,489 a month in Anchorage to $1,641 a month in Garland, up $152 a month (10%).
Median household income goes from $103,284 in Anchorage to $76,320 in Garland, down $26,964 (26%).
The crime index goes from 240 in Anchorage to 87 in Garland, down 153 points (64%).
The move
Garland and Anchorage are 3,048 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,641 a month in Garland to $1,489 a month in Anchorage, down $152 a month (9%).
Median household income goes from $76,320 in Garland to $103,284 in Anchorage, up $26,964 (35%).
The crime index goes from 87 in Garland to 240 in Anchorage, up 153 points (176%).
Anchorage, AK
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 Anchorage and Garland? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
9% cheaper
Anchorage rent is 9% cheaper than Garland
Anchorage
Winner$1,489/mo
Garland
$1,641/mo
Typical rent runs $1,489 a month in Anchorage versus $1,641 in Garland, so Anchorage is 9% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $152, or $1,824 a year: noticeable, but rent alone should not pick the city. Use this as a tie-breaker after you compare income, schools, and crime, unless you are already stretching every dollar.
Planning to buy in Anchorage? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
35% higher
Anchorage's median income is 35% higher than Garland
Anchorage
Winner$103,284
Garland
$76,320
Median household income is $103,284 in Anchorage versus $76,320 in Garland, so typical pay runs 35% higher in Anchorage (about $26,964 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, Anchorage 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
64% lower crime
Garland's crime index is 64% lower than Anchorage
Anchorage
240 (100 = avg)
Garland
Winner87 (100 = avg)
Garland's crime index is 87 versus 240 in Anchorage (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 64% 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. Anchorage can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
355% more comfortable
Garland weather is 355% more comfortable than Anchorage
Anchorage
37°F avg · 42°F highs · comfort 22/100
Garland
Winner66°F avg · 73°F highs · comfort 100/100
Anchorage averages about 37°F (42°F highs); Garland averages about 66°F (73°F highs). Anchorage averages around 37°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Garland sits near 66°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Garland scores 355% closer to the 65-80°F comfort band on this page, so it is the easier default for year-round outdoor errands and evenings. Choose Anchorage if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Anchorage is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 9% cheaper here at about $1,489 a month. Choose Anchorage if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Anchorage is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 35% higher here ($103,284). Start with Anchorage if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Fit check
Outdoor enthusiasts and people who need year-round access to nature for their wellbeing
Pick Garland if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (66°F) beat Anchorage on this page's weather index by 355%. Anchorage may pay more or cost less, but Garland is the city where the forecast fights you less.
Garland is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 64% lower than Anchorage (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
Anchorage (37°F) and Garland (66°F) are not interchangeable on climate — about 29°F apart on typical temperatures. Rent ($1,489 vs $1,641) and pay ($103,284 vs $76,320) still matter, yet most movers regret ignoring the forecast row.
With only $152 separating typical rent, run both offer letters before housing cost alone picks the city.
Median income is $103,284 in Anchorage versus $76,320 in Garland.
If climate drives your move, Anchorage is the stronger match (37°F typical weather versus 66°F). If an employer or family tie already points to Garland, treat $1,641/month rent and $76,320 income as the numbers that actually govern the decision.
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