City comparison
Yes. Honolulu's crime index is 80 versus 87 in Garland, and its violent crime index is 57 versus 62, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Garland is cheaper. Median rent is $1,641 a month versus $1,823 in Honolulu.
Honolulu and Garland are closer on paper than many city pairs, so the move comes down to how you weight cost, safety, and climate. Typical rent sits near $1,823 in Honolulu and $1,641 in Garland, and median household income lands at $86,504 versus $76,320. Use the category rows below to see which gaps would change your daily life.
This is a genuine split. Honolulu wins on the job market and safety and Garland wins on cost of living. Which matters more depends entirely on how you live: remote workers and families weight these categories differently than commuters or single professionals.
Visit both if you can. Cities reveal themselves in the ordinary moments, a Tuesday morning commute, a Saturday errand run, not on a weekend visit.
The move
Honolulu and Garland are 3,798 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,823 a month in Honolulu to $1,641 a month in Garland, down $182 a month (10%).
Median household income goes from $86,504 in Honolulu to $76,320 in Garland, down $10,184 (12%).
The crime index goes from 80 in Honolulu to 87 in Garland, up 7 points (9%).
The move
Garland and Honolulu are 3,798 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,641 a month in Garland to $1,823 a month in Honolulu, up $182 a month (11%).
Median household income goes from $76,320 in Garland to $86,504 in Honolulu, up $10,184 (13%).
The crime index goes from 87 in Garland to 80 in Honolulu, down 7 points (8%).
Honolulu, HI
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 Honolulu and Garland? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
10% cheaper
Garland rent is 10% cheaper than Honolulu
Honolulu
$1,823/mo
Garland
Winner$1,641/mo
Typical rent runs $1,641 a month in Garland versus $1,823 in Honolulu, so Garland is 10% 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 $2,184, 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 Honolulu.
Planning to buy in Honolulu? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
13% higher
Honolulu's median income is 13% higher than Garland
Honolulu
Winner$86,504
Garland
$76,320
Median household income is $86,504 in Honolulu versus $76,320 in Garland, so typical pay runs 13% higher in Honolulu (about $10,184 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, Honolulu 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
8% lower crime
Honolulu's crime index is 8% lower than Garland
Honolulu
Winner80 (100 = avg)
Garland
87 (100 = avg)
Honolulu's crime index is 80 versus 87 in Garland (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 8% lower in Honolulu. The difference is noticeable without being night-and-day. You will still want to pick the neighborhood carefully in Honolulu, 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
Honolulu and Garland are about even on typical weather.
Honolulu
77°F avg · 82°F highs · comfort 100/100
Garland
66°F avg · 73°F highs · comfort 100/100
Honolulu averages about 77°F (82°F highs); Garland averages about 66°F (73°F highs). Honolulu sits near 77°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
Honolulu is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 13% higher here ($86,504). Start with Honolulu if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Honolulu is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 8% lower than Garland (80 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 Garland
Garland is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 10% 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.
Bottom line
Honolulu posts $86,504 median household income against $76,320 in Garland. That 12% pay gap is the story when rents are $1,641 in Garland and $1,823 in Honolulu.
With only $182 separating typical rent, run both offer letters before housing cost alone picks the city.
Safety scores read 67/100 in Honolulu and 64/100 in Garland.
Between Honolulu and Garland, Honolulu is ahead on local pay — $86,504 median income against $76,320. Lean Garland instead when keeping rent near $1,641/month beats chasing $86,504 median income.
Common questions
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Next steps
Quotes and listings for Honolulu when you're ready to act.
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Honolulu and Garland, plus other cities in HI and TX.
