City comparison
Yes. Garland's crime index is 87 versus 169 in Richmond, and its violent crime index is 62 versus 122, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Richmond is cheaper. Median rent is $1,372 a month versus $1,641 in Garland.
Safety is where Garland and Richmond split most clearly. Garland scores 82 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,641 in Garland and $1,372 in Richmond.
Garland is not a close call here. It leads on the job market, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Richmond 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 rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. Richmond at $1,372 average has pockets that run $1,172 and others at $1,772: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Garland and Richmond are 1,127 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,641 a month in Garland to $1,372 a month in Richmond, down $269 a month (16%).
Median household income goes from $76,320 in Garland to $64,587 in Richmond, down $11,733 (15%).
The crime index goes from 87 in Garland to 169 in Richmond, up 82 points (94%).
The move
Richmond and Garland are 1,127 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,372 a month in Richmond to $1,641 a month in Garland, up $269 a month (20%).
Median household income goes from $64,587 in Richmond to $76,320 in Garland, up $11,733 (18%).
The crime index goes from 169 in Richmond to 87 in Garland, down 82 points (49%).
Garland, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Richmond, VA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Garland and Richmond? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
16% cheaper
Richmond rent is 16% cheaper than Garland
Garland
$1,641/mo
Richmond
Winner$1,372/mo
Typical rent runs $1,372 a month in Richmond versus $1,641 in Garland, so Richmond is 16% 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 $3,228, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Richmond 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
18% higher
Garland's median income is 18% higher than Richmond
Garland
Winner$76,320
Richmond
$64,587
Median household income is $76,320 in Garland versus $64,587 in Richmond, so typical pay runs 18% higher in Garland (about $11,733 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, Garland is the stronger labor market on paper. Richmond can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
49% lower crime
Garland's crime index is 49% lower than Richmond
Garland
Winner87 (100 = avg)
Richmond
169 (100 = avg)
Garland's crime index is 87 versus 169 in Richmond (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 49% 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. Richmond can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
28% more comfortable
Garland weather is 28% more comfortable than Richmond
Garland
Winner66°F avg · 73°F highs · comfort 100/100
Richmond
57°F avg · 66°F highs · comfort 78/100
Garland averages about 66°F (73°F highs); Richmond averages about 57°F (66°F highs). Garland sits near 66°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Richmond averages around 57°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Garland scores 28% 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 Richmond 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 plus year-round outdoor access
It is also a match for career-focused movers who want salary upside and year-round outdoor access. Median household income runs 18% higher ($76,320), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 66°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Garland is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 49% lower than Richmond (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.
Fit check
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Richmond
Richmond is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 16% cheaper here at about $1,372 a month. Choose Richmond if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Bottom line
Neither city is a free pass on neighborhood choice, but Garland leads on safety (64/100 vs 44/100 in Richmond). Typical rent is $1,641 in Garland and $1,372 in Richmond; do not assume the cheaper lease buys the calmer blocks.
Safety still diverges (64/100 in Garland vs 44/100 in Richmond), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Typical rent stays $1,372 in Richmond and $1,641 in Garland.
Garland is ahead on safety (64/100 vs 44/100); Richmond is still viable when you have a vetted ZIP there and $1,372/month rent plus $64,587 income fit your budget better than the safety margin.
Common questions
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