City comparison
Yes. Chandler's crime index is 61 versus 87 in Garland, and its violent crime index is 38 versus 62, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Garland is cheaper. Median rent is $1,641 a month versus $1,902 in Chandler.
The income gap between Chandler and Garland is significant: $108,095 median household versus $76,320. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $1,902 in Chandler and $1,641 in Garland.
This is a genuine split. Chandler wins on the job market and safety and Garland wins on cost of living. Which matters more depends entirely on how you live: remote workers and families weight these categories differently than commuters or single professionals.
The crime gap is citywide. Chandler has rougher pockets and Garland has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Chandler and Garland are 879 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,902 a month in Chandler to $1,641 a month in Garland, down $261 a month (14%).
Median household income goes from $108,095 in Chandler to $76,320 in Garland, down $31,775 (29%).
The crime index goes from 61 in Chandler to 87 in Garland, up 26 points (43%).
The move
Garland and Chandler are 879 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,641 a month in Garland to $1,902 a month in Chandler, up $261 a month (16%).
Median household income goes from $76,320 in Garland to $108,095 in Chandler, up $31,775 (42%).
The crime index goes from 87 in Garland to 61 in Chandler, down 26 points (30%).
Chandler, AZ
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 Chandler and Garland? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
14% cheaper
Garland rent is 14% cheaper than Chandler
Chandler
$1,902/mo
Garland
Winner$1,641/mo
Typical rent runs $1,641 a month in Garland versus $1,902 in Chandler, so Garland is 14% 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 $3,132, 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 Chandler.
Planning to buy in Chandler? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
42% higher
Chandler's median income is 42% higher than Garland
Chandler
Winner$108,095
Garland
$76,320
Median household income is $108,095 in Chandler versus $76,320 in Garland, so typical pay runs 42% higher in Chandler (about $31,775 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, Chandler 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
30% lower crime
Chandler's crime index is 30% lower than Garland
Chandler
Winner61 (100 = avg)
Garland
87 (100 = avg)
Chandler's crime index is 61 versus 87 in Garland (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 30% lower in Chandler. 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, Chandler is the easier city. Garland can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
Neck and neck
Chandler and Garland are about even on typical weather.
Chandler
80°F avg · 87°F highs · comfort 100/100
Garland
66°F avg · 73°F highs · comfort 100/100
Chandler averages about 80°F (87°F highs); Garland averages about 66°F (73°F highs). Chandler sits near 80°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
Chandler is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 42% higher here ($108,095). Start with Chandler if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Chandler is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 30% lower than Garland (61 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.
Fit check
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Garland
Garland is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 14% 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.
Bottom line
Pay is the headline: Chandler median income is $108,095 versus $76,320 in Garland (29% higher). Rent still runs $1,902/month in Chandler and $1,641/month in Garland, so the wage edge only helps if your offer matches Chandler rates.
Safety still diverges (75/100 in Chandler vs 64/100 in Garland), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Weather averages land near 80°F in Chandler and 66°F in Garland.
Chandler clears the bar on local pay in this dataset. Garland deserves a serious look only when keeping rent near $1,641/month beats chasing $108,095 median income.
Common questions
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Next steps
Quotes and listings for Chandler when you're ready to act.
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Chandler and Garland, plus other cities in AZ and TX.
