City comparison
No. Frisco's crime index is 43 versus 87 in Garland, and its violent crime index is 31 versus 62, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Garland is cheaper. Median rent is $1,641 a month versus $2,014 in Frisco.
The income gap between Garland and Frisco is significant: $76,320 median household versus $150,212. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $1,641 in Garland and $2,014 in Frisco.
This is a genuine split. Garland wins on cost of living and Frisco 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 rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. Garland at $1,641 average has pockets that run $1,441 and others at $2,041: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Garland and Frisco are 20 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,641 a month in Garland to $2,014 a month in Frisco, up $373 a month (23%).
Median household income goes from $76,320 in Garland to $150,212 in Frisco, up $73,892 (97%).
The crime index goes from 87 in Garland to 43 in Frisco, down 44 points (51%).
The move
Frisco and Garland are 20 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $2,014 a month in Frisco to $1,641 a month in Garland, down $373 a month (19%).
Median household income goes from $150,212 in Frisco to $76,320 in Garland, down $73,892 (49%).
The crime index goes from 43 in Frisco to 87 in Garland, up 44 points (102%).
Garland, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Frisco, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Garland and Frisco? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
19% cheaper
Garland rent is 19% cheaper than Frisco
Garland
Winner$1,641/mo
Frisco
$2,014/mo
Typical rent runs $1,641 a month in Garland versus $2,014 in Frisco, so Garland is 19% 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 $4,476, 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 Frisco.
Planning to buy in Frisco? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
97% higher
Frisco's median income is 97% higher than Garland
Garland
$76,320
Frisco
Winner$150,212
Median household income is $150,212 in Frisco versus $76,320 in Garland, so typical pay runs 97% higher in Frisco (about $73,892 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, Frisco 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
51% lower crime
Frisco's crime index is 51% lower than Garland
Garland
87 (100 = avg)
Frisco
Winner43 (100 = avg)
Frisco's crime index is 43 versus 87 in Garland (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 51% lower in Frisco. 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, Frisco is the easier city. Garland can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
Neck and neck
Garland and Frisco are about even on typical weather.
Garland
66°F avg · 73°F highs · comfort 100/100
Frisco
68°F avg · 76°F highs · comfort 100/100
Garland averages about 66°F (73°F highs); Frisco averages about 68°F (76°F highs). Garland sits near 66°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Frisco sits near 68°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 Garland
Garland is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 19% 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.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Frisco is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 97% higher here ($150,212). Start with Frisco if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Frisco is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 51% lower than Garland (43 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
This pair is really a paycheck comparison: Frisco at $150,212 median income versus $76,320 in Garland. Housing ($1,641 in Garland, $2,014 in Frisco) is secondary unless you are rent-burdened already.
Frisco still pays more locally ($150,212 median income vs $76,320), which can offset the lease if your field pays Frisco rates.
Typical rent stays $1,641 in Garland and $2,014 in Frisco.
Pick Frisco when your field pays toward $150,212 median income. Otherwise, Garland's case rests on a $1,641 lease that leaves more room in the monthly budget.
Common questions
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Next steps
Quotes and listings for Frisco when you're ready to act.
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Nearby research
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