City comparison
No. Garland's crime index is 87 versus 188 in Dallas, and its violent crime index is 62 versus 179, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Dallas is cheaper. Median rent is $1,472 a month versus $1,641 in Garland.
Safety is where Dallas and Garland split most clearly. Garland scores 101 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,472 in Dallas and $1,641 in Garland.
This is a genuine split. Dallas wins on cost of living and Garland wins on the job market and safety. 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. Garland has rougher pockets and Dallas has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Dallas and Garland are 13 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,472 a month in Dallas to $1,641 a month in Garland, up $169 a month (11%).
Median household income goes from $70,518 in Dallas to $76,320 in Garland, up $5,802 (8%).
The crime index goes from 188 in Dallas to 87 in Garland, down 101 points (54%).
The move
Garland and Dallas are 13 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,641 a month in Garland to $1,472 a month in Dallas, down $169 a month (10%).
Median household income goes from $76,320 in Garland to $70,518 in Dallas, down $5,802 (8%).
The crime index goes from 87 in Garland to 188 in Dallas, up 101 points (116%).
Dallas, TX
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 Dallas and Garland? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
10% cheaper
Dallas rent is 10% cheaper than Garland
Dallas
Winner$1,472/mo
Garland
$1,641/mo
Typical rent runs $1,472 a month in Dallas versus $1,641 in Garland, so Dallas is 10% 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 $2,028, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Dallas still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Garland.
Planning to buy in Garland? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
8% higher
Garland's median income is 8% higher than Dallas
Dallas
$70,518
Garland
Winner$76,320
Median household income is $76,320 in Garland versus $70,518 in Dallas, so typical pay runs 8% higher in Garland (about $5,802 more household income a year). The income edge is modest. Treat it as extra negotiating context, not a reason to ignore rent, schools, or climate. Remote workers especially should not treat citywide pay as a personal raise if their employer will not localize salary.
Crime index
54% lower crime
Garland's crime index is 54% lower than Dallas
Dallas
188 (100 = avg)
Garland
Winner87 (100 = avg)
Garland's crime index is 87 versus 188 in Dallas (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 54% 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. Dallas can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
Neck and neck
Dallas and Garland are about even on typical weather.
Dallas
67°F avg · 74°F highs · comfort 100/100
Garland
66°F avg · 73°F highs · comfort 100/100
Dallas averages about 67°F (74°F highs); Garland averages about 66°F (73°F highs). Dallas sits near 67°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
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Dallas
Dallas is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 10% cheaper here at about $1,472 a month. Choose Dallas 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 and professional growth
Garland is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 8% higher here ($76,320). Start with Garland if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Garland is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 54% lower than Dallas (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 41/100 in Dallas. Rent is $1,641/month in Garland and $1,472/month in Dallas, so you are not buying calm streets for free.
With only $169 separating typical rent, run both offer letters before housing cost alone picks the city.
Median income is $76,320 in Garland versus $70,518 in Dallas.
Between Dallas and Garland, Garland is ahead on safety — 64/100 safety versus 41/100. Lean Dallas instead when you already know the Dallas block you would live on and the safety gap is acceptable.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
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