City comparison
No. Scottsdale's crime index is 79 versus 87 in Garland, and its violent crime index is 48 versus 62, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Garland is cheaper. Median rent is $1,641 a month versus $2,013 in Scottsdale.
The income gap between Garland and Scottsdale is significant: $76,320 median household versus $110,886. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $1,641 in Garland and $2,013 in Scottsdale.
This is a genuine split. Garland wins on cost of living and Scottsdale 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 Scottsdale are 882 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,641 a month in Garland to $2,013 a month in Scottsdale, up $372 a month (23%).
Median household income goes from $76,320 in Garland to $110,886 in Scottsdale, up $34,566 (45%).
The crime index goes from 87 in Garland to 79 in Scottsdale, down 8 points (9%).
The move
Scottsdale and Garland are 882 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $2,013 a month in Scottsdale to $1,641 a month in Garland, down $372 a month (18%).
Median household income goes from $110,886 in Scottsdale to $76,320 in Garland, down $34,566 (31%).
The crime index goes from 79 in Scottsdale to 87 in Garland, up 8 points (10%).
Garland, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Scottsdale, AZ
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Garland and Scottsdale? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
18% cheaper
Garland rent is 18% cheaper than Scottsdale
Garland
Winner$1,641/mo
Scottsdale
$2,013/mo
Typical rent runs $1,641 a month in Garland versus $2,013 in Scottsdale, so Garland is 18% 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 $4,464, 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 Scottsdale.
Planning to buy in Scottsdale? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
45% higher
Scottsdale's median income is 45% higher than Garland
Garland
$76,320
Scottsdale
Winner$110,886
Median household income is $110,886 in Scottsdale versus $76,320 in Garland, so typical pay runs 45% higher in Scottsdale (about $34,566 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, Scottsdale 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
9% lower crime
Scottsdale's crime index is 9% lower than Garland
Garland
87 (100 = avg)
Scottsdale
Winner79 (100 = avg)
Scottsdale's crime index is 79 versus 87 in Garland (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 9% lower in Scottsdale. The difference is noticeable without being night-and-day. You will still want to pick the neighborhood carefully in Scottsdale, but you will usually spend less energy on constant vigilance than you would in Garland. Tour both cities after dark before you let a modest index gap close the decision.
Typical weather
Neck and neck
Garland and Scottsdale are about even on typical weather.
Garland
66°F avg · 73°F highs · comfort 100/100
Scottsdale
74°F avg · 80°F highs · comfort 100/100
Garland averages about 66°F (73°F highs); Scottsdale averages about 74°F (80°F highs). Garland sits near 66°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Scottsdale sits near 74°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 18% 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
Scottsdale is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 45% higher here ($110,886). Start with Scottsdale if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Scottsdale is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 9% lower than Garland (79 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
Scottsdale posts $110,886 median household income against $76,320 in Garland. That 31% pay gap is the story when rents are $1,641 in Garland and $2,013 in Scottsdale.
Scottsdale still pays more locally ($110,886 median income vs $76,320), which can offset the lease if your field pays Scottsdale rates.
Safety scores read 64/100 in Garland and 67/100 in Scottsdale.
Between Garland and Scottsdale, Scottsdale is ahead on local pay — $110,886 median income against $76,320. Lean Garland instead when keeping rent near $1,641/month beats chasing $110,886 median income.
Common questions
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Nearby research
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