City comparison
Garland is safer than Jacksonville. Garland's crime index is 87 versus 150 in Jacksonville, and its violent crime index is 62 versus 155, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Jacksonville is cheaper. Median rent is $1,465 a month versus $1,641 in Garland.
Safety is where Jacksonville and Garland split most clearly. Garland scores 63 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,465 in Jacksonville and $1,641 in Garland.
This is a genuine split. Jacksonville wins on cost of living and Garland 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 crime gap is citywide. Garland has rougher pockets and Jacksonville has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Jacksonville and Garland are 899 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,465 a month in Jacksonville to $1,641 a month in Garland, up $176 a month (12%).
Median household income goes from $69,872 in Jacksonville to $76,320 in Garland, up $6,448 (9%).
The crime index goes from 150 in Jacksonville to 87 in Garland, down 63 points (42%).
The move
Garland and Jacksonville are 899 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,641 a month in Garland to $1,465 a month in Jacksonville, down $176 a month (11%).
Median household income goes from $76,320 in Garland to $69,872 in Jacksonville, down $6,448 (8%).
The crime index goes from 87 in Garland to 150 in Jacksonville, up 63 points (72%).
Jacksonville, FL
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 Jacksonville and Garland? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
11% cheaper
Jacksonville rent is 11% cheaper than Garland
Jacksonville
Winner$1,465/mo
Garland
$1,641/mo
Typical rent runs $1,465 a month in Jacksonville versus $1,641 in Garland, so Jacksonville is 11% 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 $2,112, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Jacksonville 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
9% higher
Garland's median income is 9% higher than Jacksonville
Jacksonville
$69,872
Garland
Winner$76,320
Median household income is $76,320 in Garland versus $69,872 in Jacksonville, so typical pay runs 9% higher in Garland (about $6,448 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
42% lower crime
Garland's crime index is 42% lower than Jacksonville
Jacksonville
150 (100 = avg)
Garland
Winner87 (100 = avg)
Garland's crime index is 87 versus 150 in Jacksonville (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 42% 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. Jacksonville can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
Neck and neck
Jacksonville and Garland are about even on typical weather.
Jacksonville
72°F avg · 79°F highs · comfort 100/100
Garland
72°F avg · 79°F highs · comfort 100/100
Jacksonville averages about 72°F (79°F highs); Garland averages about 72°F (79°F highs). Jacksonville sits near 72°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Garland sits near 72°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 Jacksonville
Jacksonville is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 11% cheaper here at about $1,465 a month. Choose Jacksonville 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
Garland is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 9% higher here ($76,320). Start with Garland if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Garland is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 42% lower than Jacksonville (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
Neither city is a free pass on neighborhood choice, but Garland leads on safety (64/100 vs 48/100 in Jacksonville). Typical rent is $1,641 in Garland and $1,465 in Jacksonville; do not assume the cheaper lease buys the calmer blocks.
With only $176 separating typical rent, run both offer letters before housing cost alone picks the city.
Median income is $76,320 in Garland versus $69,872 in Jacksonville.
Most movers who prioritize safety land in Garland; Jacksonville only makes sense when you have walked the Jacksonville ZIP you would rent and accept the trade for $1,465 rent.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Jacksonville and Garland, plus other cities in FL and TX.
