City comparison
No. Garland's crime index is 87 versus 212 in Aurora, and its violent crime index is 62 versus 248, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Garland is cheaper. Median rent is $1,641 a month versus $1,835 in Aurora.
Safety is where Aurora and Garland split most clearly. Garland scores 125 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,835 in Aurora 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. Aurora 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 Aurora has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Aurora and Garland are 655 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,835 a month in Aurora to $1,641 a month in Garland, down $194 a month (11%).
Median household income goes from $88,368 in Aurora to $76,320 in Garland, down $12,048 (14%).
The crime index goes from 212 in Aurora to 87 in Garland, down 125 points (59%).
The move
Garland and Aurora are 655 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,641 a month in Garland to $1,835 a month in Aurora, up $194 a month (12%).
Median household income goes from $76,320 in Garland to $88,368 in Aurora, up $12,048 (16%).
The crime index goes from 87 in Garland to 212 in Aurora, up 125 points (144%).
Aurora, CO
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 Aurora and Garland? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
11% cheaper
Garland rent is 11% cheaper than Aurora
Aurora
$1,835/mo
Garland
Winner$1,641/mo
Typical rent runs $1,641 a month in Garland versus $1,835 in Aurora, so Garland is 11% 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 $2,328, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Garland still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Aurora.
Planning to buy in Garland? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
16% higher
Aurora's median income is 16% higher than Garland
Aurora
Winner$88,368
Garland
$76,320
Median household income is $88,368 in Aurora versus $76,320 in Garland, so typical pay runs 16% higher in Aurora (about $12,048 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, Aurora 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
59% lower crime
Garland's crime index is 59% lower than Aurora
Aurora
212 (100 = avg)
Garland
Winner87 (100 = avg)
Garland's crime index is 87 versus 212 in Aurora (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 59% 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. Aurora 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 Aurora
Aurora
61°F avg · 71°F highs · comfort 89/100
Garland
Winner66°F avg · 73°F highs · comfort 100/100
Aurora averages about 61°F (71°F highs); Garland averages about 66°F (73°F highs). Aurora 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 Aurora 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
Aurora is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 16% higher here ($88,368). Start with Aurora 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 11% 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 Aurora on this page's weather index by 12%. Aurora 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 59% lower than Aurora (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
Aurora carries the heavier crime signal on this page (37/100 safety vs 64/100 in Garland). That 27-point spread matters more than the $194 rent gap when you are choosing where to walk after dark.
Garland rent at $1,641/month is still below Aurora's $1,835, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Typical rent stays $1,641 in Garland and $1,835 in Aurora.
If safety drives your move, Garland is the stronger match (64/100 safety versus 37/100). If an employer or family tie already points to Aurora, treat $1,835/month rent and $88,368 income as the numbers that actually govern the decision.
Common questions
Ready to move to Garland?
Next steps
Quotes and listings for Garland when you're ready to act.
Keep researching
Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Aurora and Garland, plus other cities in CO and TX.
