City comparison
No. Garland's crime index is 87 versus 341 in Cleveland, and its violent crime index is 62 versus 425, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Cleveland is cheaper. Median rent is $1,060 a month versus $1,641 in Garland.
Safety is where Cleveland and Garland split most clearly. Garland scores 254 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,060 in Cleveland and $1,641 in Garland.
Garland is not a close call here. It leads on the job market, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Cleveland 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. Cleveland at $1,060 average has pockets that run $860 and others at $1,460: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Cleveland and Garland are 1,012 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,060 a month in Cleveland to $1,641 a month in Garland, up $581 a month (55%).
Median household income goes from $64,468 in Cleveland to $76,320 in Garland, up $11,852 (18%).
The crime index goes from 341 in Cleveland to 87 in Garland, down 254 points (74%).
The move
Garland and Cleveland are 1,012 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,641 a month in Garland to $1,060 a month in Cleveland, down $581 a month (35%).
Median household income goes from $76,320 in Garland to $64,468 in Cleveland, down $11,852 (16%).
The crime index goes from 87 in Garland to 341 in Cleveland, up 254 points (292%).
Cleveland, OH
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 Cleveland and Garland? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
35% cheaper
Cleveland rent is 35% cheaper than Garland
Cleveland
Winner$1,060/mo
Garland
$1,641/mo
Typical rent runs $1,060 a month in Cleveland versus $1,641 in Garland, so Cleveland is 35% cheaper. That's roughly $581/month back in your pocket ($6,972/year). Over five years that's $34,860 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 Garland, the extra rent can be rational. If you do not, Cleveland 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
18% higher
Garland's median income is 18% higher than Cleveland
Cleveland
$64,468
Garland
Winner$76,320
Median household income is $76,320 in Garland versus $64,468 in Cleveland, so typical pay runs 18% higher in Garland (about $11,852 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, Garland is the stronger labor market on paper. Cleveland can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
74% lower crime
Garland's crime index is 74% lower than Cleveland
Cleveland
341 (100 = avg)
Garland
Winner87 (100 = avg)
Garland's crime index is 87 versus 341 in Cleveland (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 74% 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. Cleveland can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
52% more comfortable
Garland weather is 52% more comfortable than Cleveland
Cleveland
53°F avg · 58°F highs · comfort 66/100
Garland
Winner66°F avg · 73°F highs · comfort 100/100
Cleveland averages about 53°F (58°F highs); Garland averages about 66°F (73°F highs). Cleveland averages around 53°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 52% 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 Cleveland if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
Fit check
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Cleveland
Cleveland is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 35% cheaper here at about $1,060 a month. Choose Cleveland if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside plus year-round outdoor access
It is also a match for career-focused movers who want salary upside and year-round outdoor access. Median household income runs 18% higher ($76,320), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 66°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Garland is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 74% lower than Cleveland (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 23/100 in Cleveland). Typical rent is $1,641 in Garland and $1,060 in Cleveland; do not assume the cheaper lease buys the calmer blocks.
Garland still pays more locally ($76,320 median income vs $64,468), which can offset the lease if your field pays Garland rates.
Weather averages land near 53°F in Cleveland and 66°F in Garland.
Most movers who prioritize safety land in Garland; Cleveland only makes sense when you have walked the Cleveland ZIP you would rent and accept the trade for $1,060 rent.
Common questions
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Next steps
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