City comparison
No. Garland's crime index is 87 versus 193 in Durham, and its violent crime index is 62 versus 163, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Durham is cheaper. Median rent is $1,508 a month versus $1,641 in Garland.
Safety is where Durham and Garland split most clearly. Garland scores 106 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,508 in Durham and $1,641 in Garland.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Durham is the easier city on typical rent, but Garland can still be the better daily fit depending on schools, safety, and climate. Both are defensible choices for different reasons.
The crime gap is citywide. Garland has rougher pockets and Durham has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Durham and Garland are 1,031 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,508 a month in Durham to $1,641 a month in Garland, up $133 a month (9%).
Median household income goes from $81,619 in Durham to $76,320 in Garland, down $5,299 (6%).
The crime index goes from 193 in Durham to 87 in Garland, down 106 points (55%).
The move
Garland and Durham are 1,031 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,641 a month in Garland to $1,508 a month in Durham, down $133 a month (8%).
Median household income goes from $76,320 in Garland to $81,619 in Durham, up $5,299 (7%).
The crime index goes from 87 in Garland to 193 in Durham, up 106 points (122%).
Durham, NC
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 Durham and Garland? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
8% cheaper
Durham rent is 8% cheaper than Garland
Durham
Winner$1,508/mo
Garland
$1,641/mo
Typical rent runs $1,508 a month in Durham versus $1,641 in Garland, so Durham is 8% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $133, or $1,596 a year: noticeable, but rent alone should not pick the city. Use this as a tie-breaker after you compare income, schools, and crime, unless you are already stretching every dollar.
Planning to buy in Durham? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
7% higher
Durham's median income is 7% higher than Garland
Durham
Winner$81,619
Garland
$76,320
Median household income is $81,619 in Durham versus $76,320 in Garland, so typical pay runs 7% higher in Durham (about $5,299 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
55% lower crime
Garland's crime index is 55% lower than Durham
Durham
193 (100 = avg)
Garland
Winner87 (100 = avg)
Garland's crime index is 87 versus 193 in Durham (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 55% 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. Durham can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
20% more comfortable
Garland weather is 20% more comfortable than Durham
Durham
59°F avg · 68°F highs · comfort 83/100
Garland
Winner66°F avg · 73°F highs · comfort 100/100
Durham averages about 59°F (68°F highs); Garland averages about 66°F (73°F highs). Durham averages around 59°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 20% 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 Durham 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
Durham is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 8% cheaper here at about $1,508 a month. Choose Durham if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Durham is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 7% higher here ($81,619). Start with Durham 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
Pick Garland if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (66°F) beat Durham on this page's weather index by 20%. Durham 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 55% lower than Durham (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
Durham carries the heavier crime signal on this page (40/100 safety vs 64/100 in Garland). That 24-point spread matters more than the $133 rent gap when you are choosing where to walk after dark.
Safety still diverges (64/100 in Garland vs 40/100 in Durham), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Median income is $81,619 in Durham versus $76,320 in Garland.
If safety drives your move, Garland is the stronger match (64/100 safety versus 40/100). If an employer or family tie already points to Durham, treat $1,508/month rent and $81,619 income as the numbers that actually govern the decision.
Common questions
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Next steps
Quotes and listings for Durham when you're ready to act.
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Durham and Garland, plus other cities in NC and TX.
