City comparison
No. Garland's crime index is 87 versus 164 in Columbus, and its violent crime index is 62 versus 140, using 2024 FBI data for Columbus and 2024-2025 FBI data for Garland.
Columbus is cheaper. Median rent is $1,295 a month versus $1,641 in Garland.
Climate is the sharpest divide between Columbus and Garland. Columbus averages 53°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 $1,295 versus $1,641.
Garland is not a close call here. It leads on the job market, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Columbus 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. Columbus at $1,295 average has pockets that run $1,095 and others at $1,695: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Columbus and Garland are 900 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,295 a month in Columbus to $1,641 a month in Garland, up $346 a month (27%).
Median household income goes from $66,082 in Columbus to $76,320 in Garland, up $10,238 (15%).
The crime index goes from 164 in Columbus to 87 in Garland, down 77 points (47%).
The move
Garland and Columbus are 900 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,641 a month in Garland to $1,295 a month in Columbus, down $346 a month (21%).
Median household income goes from $76,320 in Garland to $66,082 in Columbus, down $10,238 (13%).
The crime index goes from 87 in Garland to 164 in Columbus, up 77 points (89%).
Columbus, 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 Columbus and Garland? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
21% cheaper
Columbus rent is 21% cheaper than Garland
Columbus
Winner$1,295/mo
Garland
$1,641/mo
Typical rent runs $1,295 a month in Columbus versus $1,641 in Garland, so Columbus is 21% cheaper. That's roughly $346/month back in your pocket ($4,152/year). Over five years that's $20,760 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, Columbus 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
15% higher
Garland's median income is 15% higher than Columbus
Columbus
$66,082
Garland
Winner$76,320
Median household income is $76,320 in Garland versus $66,082 in Columbus, so typical pay runs 15% higher in Garland (about $10,238 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. Columbus can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
47% lower crime
Garland's crime index is 47% lower than Columbus
Columbus
164 (100 = avg)
Garland
Winner87 (100 = avg)
Garland's crime index is 87 versus 164 in Columbus (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 47% 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. Columbus 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 Columbus
Columbus
53°F avg · 60°F highs · comfort 66/100
Garland
Winner66°F avg · 73°F highs · comfort 100/100
Columbus averages about 53°F (60°F highs); Garland averages about 66°F (73°F highs). Columbus 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 Columbus 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 Columbus
Columbus is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 21% cheaper here at about $1,295 a month. Choose Columbus 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 15% 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 47% lower than Columbus (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 45/100 in Columbus. Rent is $1,641/month in Garland and $1,295/month in Columbus, so you are not buying calm streets for free.
Safety still diverges (64/100 in Garland vs 45/100 in Columbus), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Typical rent stays $1,295 in Columbus and $1,641 in Garland.
Most movers who prioritize safety land in Garland; Columbus only makes sense when you have walked the Columbus ZIP you would rent and accept the trade for $1,295 rent.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
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