City comparison
No. Garland's crime index is 87 versus 147 in Boston, and its violent crime index is 62 versus 175, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Garland is cheaper. Median rent is $1,641 a month versus $2,147 in Boston.
Climate is the sharpest divide between Boston and Garland. Boston averages 50°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 $2,147 versus $1,641.
Garland is not a close call here. It leads on cost of living, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Boston 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 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
Boston and Garland are 1,536 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $2,147 a month in Boston to $1,641 a month in Garland, down $506 a month (24%).
Median household income goes from $97,344 in Boston to $76,320 in Garland, down $21,024 (22%).
The crime index goes from 147 in Boston to 87 in Garland, down 60 points (41%).
The move
Garland and Boston are 1,536 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,641 a month in Garland to $2,147 a month in Boston, up $506 a month (31%).
Median household income goes from $76,320 in Garland to $97,344 in Boston, up $21,024 (28%).
The crime index goes from 87 in Garland to 147 in Boston, up 60 points (69%).
Boston, MA
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 Boston and Garland? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
24% cheaper
Garland rent is 24% cheaper than Boston
Boston
$2,147/mo
Garland
Winner$1,641/mo
Typical rent runs $1,641 a month in Garland versus $2,147 in Boston, so Garland is 24% cheaper. That's roughly $506/month back in your pocket ($6,072/year). Over five years that's $30,360 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 Boston, 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
28% higher
Boston's median income is 28% higher than Garland
Boston
Winner$97,344
Garland
$76,320
Median household income is $97,344 in Boston versus $76,320 in Garland, so typical pay runs 28% higher in Boston (about $21,024 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, Boston 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
41% lower crime
Garland's crime index is 41% lower than Boston
Boston
147 (100 = avg)
Garland
Winner87 (100 = avg)
Garland's crime index is 87 versus 147 in Boston (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 41% 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. Boston can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
72% more comfortable
Garland weather is 72% more comfortable than Boston
Boston
50°F avg · 56°F highs · comfort 58/100
Garland
Winner66°F avg · 73°F highs · comfort 100/100
Boston averages about 50°F (56°F highs); Garland averages about 66°F (73°F highs). Boston averages around 50°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 72% 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 Boston 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
Boston is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 28% higher here ($97,344). Start with Boston 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 24% 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 Boston on this page's weather index by 72%. Boston 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 41% lower than Boston (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
Safety is the widest gap: Garland scores 64/100 versus 48/100 in Boston. Rent is $1,641/month in Garland and $2,147/month in Boston, so you are not buying calm streets for free.
Safety still diverges (64/100 in Garland vs 48/100 in Boston), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Typical rent stays $1,641 in Garland and $2,147 in Boston.
Between Boston and Garland, Garland is ahead on safety — 64/100 safety versus 48/100. Lean Boston instead when you already know the Boston block you would live on and the safety gap is acceptable.
Common questions
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