City comparison
No. Garland's crime index is 87 versus 135 in Fort Worth, and its violent crime index is 62 versus 121, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Fort Worth is cheaper. Median rent is $1,509 a month versus $1,641 in Garland.
Safety is where Fort Worth and Garland split most clearly. Garland scores 48 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,509 in Fort Worth and $1,641 in Garland.
This is a genuine split. Fort Worth wins on cost of living and the job market and Garland wins on 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 Fort Worth has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Fort Worth and Garland are 42 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,509 a month in Fort Worth to $1,641 a month in Garland, up $132 a month (9%).
Median household income goes from $79,507 in Fort Worth to $76,320 in Garland, down $3,187 (4%).
The crime index goes from 135 in Fort Worth to 87 in Garland, down 48 points (36%).
The move
Garland and Fort Worth are 42 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,641 a month in Garland to $1,509 a month in Fort Worth, down $132 a month (8%).
Median household income goes from $76,320 in Garland to $79,507 in Fort Worth, up $3,187 (4%).
The crime index goes from 87 in Garland to 135 in Fort Worth, up 48 points (55%).
Fort Worth, 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 Fort Worth and Garland? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
8% cheaper
Fort Worth rent is 8% cheaper than Garland
Fort Worth
Winner$1,509/mo
Garland
$1,641/mo
Typical rent runs $1,509 a month in Fort Worth versus $1,641 in Garland, so Fort Worth is 8% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $132, or $1,584 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 Fort Worth? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
4% higher
Fort Worth's median income is 4% higher than Garland
Fort Worth
Winner$79,507
Garland
$76,320
Median household income is $79,507 in Fort Worth versus $76,320 in Garland, so typical pay runs 4% higher in Fort Worth (about $3,187 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
36% lower crime
Garland's crime index is 36% lower than Fort Worth
Fort Worth
135 (100 = avg)
Garland
Winner87 (100 = avg)
Garland's crime index is 87 versus 135 in Fort Worth (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 36% 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. Fort Worth can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
Neck and neck
Fort Worth and Garland are about even on typical weather.
Fort Worth
66°F avg · 73°F highs · comfort 100/100
Garland
66°F avg · 73°F highs · comfort 100/100
Fort Worth averages about 66°F (73°F highs); Garland averages about 66°F (73°F highs). Fort Worth sits near 66°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
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Fort Worth is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 8% cheaper here at about $1,509 a month. Choose Fort Worth if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Fort Worth is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 4% higher here ($79,507). Start with Fort Worth if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Fit check
Families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy
Garland is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 36% lower than Fort Worth (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
Crime and safety tilt toward Garland: Garland scores 64/100 versus 51/100 in Fort Worth, with typical rent at $1,641 versus $1,509. I would vet the exact ZIP in Fort Worth before trading 13 safety points for housing savings.
With only $132 separating typical rent, run both offer letters before housing cost alone picks the city.
Median income is $79,507 in Fort Worth versus $76,320 in Garland.
Garland clears the bar on safety in this dataset. Fort Worth deserves a serious look only when you already know the Fort Worth block you would live on and the safety gap is acceptable.
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Fort Worth and Garland, plus other cities in TX.
