City comparison
No. Garland's crime index is 87 versus 271 in Denver, and its violent crime index is 62 versus 272, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Garland is cheaper. Median rent is $1,641 a month versus $1,831 in Denver.
Safety is where Denver and Garland split most clearly. Garland scores 184 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,831 in Denver and $1,641 in Garland.
Garland is not a close call here. It leads on cost of living, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Denver 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 crime gap is citywide. Garland has rougher pockets and Denver has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Denver and Garland are 661 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,831 a month in Denver to $1,641 a month in Garland, down $190 a month (10%).
Median household income goes from $94,718 in Denver to $76,320 in Garland, down $18,398 (19%).
The crime index goes from 271 in Denver to 87 in Garland, down 184 points (68%).
The move
Garland and Denver are 661 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,641 a month in Garland to $1,831 a month in Denver, up $190 a month (12%).
Median household income goes from $76,320 in Garland to $94,718 in Denver, up $18,398 (24%).
The crime index goes from 87 in Garland to 271 in Denver, up 184 points (211%).
Denver, CO
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 Denver and Garland? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
10% cheaper
Garland rent is 10% cheaper than Denver
Denver
$1,831/mo
Garland
Winner$1,641/mo
Typical rent runs $1,641 a month in Garland versus $1,831 in Denver, so Garland 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 $2,280, 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 Denver.
Planning to buy in Garland? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
24% higher
Denver's median income is 24% higher than Garland
Denver
Winner$94,718
Garland
$76,320
Median household income is $94,718 in Denver versus $76,320 in Garland, so typical pay runs 24% higher in Denver (about $18,398 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, Denver 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
68% lower crime
Garland's crime index is 68% lower than Denver
Denver
271 (100 = avg)
Garland
Winner87 (100 = avg)
Garland's crime index is 87 versus 271 in Denver (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 68% 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. Denver can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
9% more comfortable
Garland weather is 9% more comfortable than Denver
Denver
62°F avg · 71°F highs · comfort 92/100
Garland
Winner66°F avg · 73°F highs · comfort 100/100
Denver averages about 62°F (71°F highs); Garland averages about 66°F (73°F highs). Denver averages around 62°F. Garland sits near 66°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Garland scores 9% 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 Denver 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
Denver is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 24% higher here ($94,718). Start with Denver 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 10% 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 Denver on this page's weather index by 9%. Denver 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 68% lower than Denver (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
Denver carries the heavier crime signal on this page (30/100 safety vs 64/100 in Garland). That 34-point spread matters more than the $190 rent gap when you are choosing where to walk after dark.
Garland rent at $1,641/month is still below Denver's $1,831, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Typical rent stays $1,641 in Garland and $1,831 in Denver.
If safety drives your move, Garland is the stronger match (64/100 safety versus 30/100). If an employer or family tie already points to Denver, treat $1,831/month rent and $94,718 income as the numbers that actually govern the decision.
Common questions
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