City comparison
No. Garland's crime index is 87 versus 197 in Atlanta, and its violent crime index is 62 versus 193, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Garland is cheaper. Median rent is $1,641 a month versus $1,711 in Atlanta.
Safety is where Atlanta and Garland split most clearly. Garland scores 110 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,711 in Atlanta and $1,641 in Garland.
Garland is not a close call here. It leads on cost of living, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Atlanta makes sense if you have a specific reason, a job offer, family, or a neighborhood you already know, but on the numbers alone Garland is the stronger move.
The crime gap is citywide. Garland has rougher pockets and Atlanta has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Atlanta and Garland are 709 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,711 a month in Atlanta to $1,641 a month in Garland, down $70 a month (4%).
Median household income goes from $85,652 in Atlanta to $76,320 in Garland, down $9,332 (11%).
The crime index goes from 197 in Atlanta to 87 in Garland, down 110 points (56%).
The move
Garland and Atlanta are 709 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,641 a month in Garland to $1,711 a month in Atlanta, up $70 a month (4%).
Median household income goes from $76,320 in Garland to $85,652 in Atlanta, up $9,332 (12%).
The crime index goes from 87 in Garland to 197 in Atlanta, up 110 points (126%).
Atlanta, GA
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 Atlanta and Garland? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
4% cheaper
Garland rent is 4% cheaper than Atlanta
Atlanta
$1,711/mo
Garland
Winner$1,641/mo
Typical rent runs $1,641 a month in Garland versus $1,711 in Atlanta, so Garland is 4% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $70, or $840 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 Garland? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
12% higher
Atlanta's median income is 12% higher than Garland
Atlanta
Winner$85,652
Garland
$76,320
Median household income is $85,652 in Atlanta versus $76,320 in Garland, so typical pay runs 12% higher in Atlanta (about $9,332 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, Atlanta 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
56% lower crime
Garland's crime index is 56% lower than Atlanta
Atlanta
197 (100 = avg)
Garland
Winner87 (100 = avg)
Garland's crime index is 87 versus 197 in Atlanta (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 56% 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. Atlanta can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
12% more comfortable
Garland weather is 12% more comfortable than Atlanta
Atlanta
61°F avg · 70°F highs · comfort 89/100
Garland
Winner66°F avg · 73°F highs · comfort 100/100
Atlanta averages about 61°F (70°F highs); Garland averages about 66°F (73°F highs). Atlanta averages around 61°F. Garland sits near 66°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Garland scores 12% 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 Atlanta 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
Atlanta is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 12% higher here ($85,652). Start with Atlanta 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
Garland is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 4% 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.
Pick Garland if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (66°F) beat Atlanta on this page's weather index by 12%. Atlanta 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 56% lower than Atlanta (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 39/100 in Atlanta). Typical rent is $1,641 in Garland and $1,711 in Atlanta; do not assume the cheaper lease buys the calmer blocks.
Garland rent at $1,641/month is still below Atlanta's $1,711, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Weather averages land near 61°F in Atlanta and 66°F in Garland.
Between Atlanta and Garland, Garland is ahead on safety — 64/100 safety versus 39/100. Lean Atlanta instead when you already know the Atlanta block you would live on and the safety gap is acceptable.
Common questions
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Nearby research
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