City comparison
No. Garland's crime index is 87 versus 158 in Los Angeles, and its violent crime index is 62 versus 202, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Garland is cheaper. Median rent is $1,641 a month versus $1,933 in Los Angeles.
Safety is where Los Angeles and Garland split most clearly. Garland scores 71 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,933 in Los Angeles and $1,641 in Garland.
This is a genuine split. Los Angeles 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 Los Angeles has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Los Angeles and Garland are 1,245 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,933 a month in Los Angeles to $1,641 a month in Garland, down $292 a month (15%).
Median household income goes from $81,939 in Los Angeles to $76,320 in Garland, down $5,619 (7%).
The crime index goes from 158 in Los Angeles to 87 in Garland, down 71 points (45%).
The move
Garland and Los Angeles are 1,245 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,641 a month in Garland to $1,933 a month in Los Angeles, up $292 a month (18%).
Median household income goes from $76,320 in Garland to $81,939 in Los Angeles, up $5,619 (7%).
The crime index goes from 87 in Garland to 158 in Los Angeles, up 71 points (82%).
Los Angeles, 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 Los Angeles and Garland? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
15% cheaper
Garland rent is 15% cheaper than Los Angeles
Los Angeles
$1,933/mo
Garland
Winner$1,641/mo
Typical rent runs $1,641 a month in Garland versus $1,933 in Los Angeles, so Garland is 15% 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 $3,504, 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 Los Angeles.
Planning to buy in Garland? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
7% higher
Los Angeles's median income is 7% higher than Garland
Los Angeles
Winner$81,939
Garland
$76,320
Median household income is $81,939 in Los Angeles versus $76,320 in Garland, so typical pay runs 7% higher in Los Angeles (about $5,619 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
45% lower crime
Garland's crime index is 45% lower than Los Angeles
Los Angeles
158 (100 = avg)
Garland
Winner87 (100 = avg)
Garland's crime index is 87 versus 158 in Los Angeles (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 45% 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. Los Angeles can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
Neck and neck
Los Angeles and Garland are about even on typical weather.
Los Angeles
72°F avg · 78°F highs · comfort 100/100
Garland
66°F avg · 73°F highs · comfort 100/100
Los Angeles averages about 72°F (78°F highs); Garland averages about 66°F (73°F highs). Los Angeles sits near 72°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
Los Angeles is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 7% higher here ($81,939). Start with Los Angeles 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 15% 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 45% lower than Los Angeles (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 46/100 in Los Angeles, with typical rent at $1,641 versus $1,933. I would vet the exact ZIP in Los Angeles before trading 18 safety points for housing savings.
Los Angeles still pays more locally ($81,939 median income vs $76,320), which can offset the lease if your field pays Los Angeles rates.
Median income is $81,939 in Los Angeles versus $76,320 in Garland.
If safety drives your move, Garland is the stronger match (64/100 safety versus 46/100). If an employer or family tie already points to Los Angeles, treat $1,933/month rent and $81,939 income as the numbers that actually govern the decision.
Common questions
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