City comparison
No. Garland's crime index is 87 versus 187 in Long Beach, and its violent crime index is 62 versus 189, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Garland is cheaper. Median rent is $1,641 a month versus $1,871 in Long Beach.
Safety is where Long Beach and Garland split most clearly. Garland scores 100 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,871 in Long Beach and $1,641 in Garland.
This is a genuine split. Long Beach wins on the job market and Garland wins on cost of living 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 Long Beach has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Long Beach and Garland are 1,243 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,871 a month in Long Beach to $1,641 a month in Garland, down $230 a month (12%).
Median household income goes from $87,430 in Long Beach to $76,320 in Garland, down $11,110 (13%).
The crime index goes from 187 in Long Beach to 87 in Garland, down 100 points (53%).
The move
Garland and Long Beach are 1,243 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,641 a month in Garland to $1,871 a month in Long Beach, up $230 a month (14%).
Median household income goes from $76,320 in Garland to $87,430 in Long Beach, up $11,110 (15%).
The crime index goes from 87 in Garland to 187 in Long Beach, up 100 points (115%).
Long Beach, CA
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 Long Beach and Garland? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
12% cheaper
Garland rent is 12% cheaper than Long Beach
Long Beach
$1,871/mo
Garland
Winner$1,641/mo
Typical rent runs $1,641 a month in Garland versus $1,871 in Long Beach, so Garland is 12% 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 $2,760, 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 Long Beach.
Planning to buy in Garland? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
15% higher
Long Beach's median income is 15% higher than Garland
Long Beach
Winner$87,430
Garland
$76,320
Median household income is $87,430 in Long Beach versus $76,320 in Garland, so typical pay runs 15% higher in Long Beach (about $11,110 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, Long Beach 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
53% lower crime
Garland's crime index is 53% lower than Long Beach
Long Beach
187 (100 = avg)
Garland
Winner87 (100 = avg)
Garland's crime index is 87 versus 187 in Long Beach (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 53% 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. Long Beach can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
Neck and neck
Long Beach and Garland are about even on typical weather.
Long Beach
71°F avg · 77°F highs · comfort 100/100
Garland
66°F avg · 73°F highs · comfort 100/100
Long Beach averages about 71°F (77°F highs); Garland averages about 66°F (73°F highs). Long Beach sits near 71°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
Long Beach is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 15% higher here ($87,430). Start with Long Beach if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Fit check
Families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy
Garland is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 12% 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.
Garland is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 53% lower than Long Beach (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
Crime and safety tilt toward Garland: Garland scores 64/100 versus 41/100 in Long Beach, with typical rent at $1,641 versus $1,871. I would vet the exact ZIP in Long Beach before trading 23 safety points for housing savings.
Long Beach still pays more locally ($87,430 median income vs $76,320), which can offset the lease if your field pays Long Beach rates.
Median income is $87,430 in Long Beach versus $76,320 in Garland.
Pick Garland when you want the stronger safety signal (64/100). Otherwise, Long Beach's case rests on a Long Beach ZIP you trust at $1,871 rent.
Common questions
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Next steps
Quotes and listings for Garland when you're ready to act.
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Nearby research
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