City comparison
No. Garland's crime index is 87 versus 495 in Memphis, and its violent crime index is 62 versus 629, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Memphis is cheaper. Median rent is $1,181 a month versus $1,641 in Garland.
Safety is where Memphis and Garland split most clearly. Garland scores 408 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,181 in Memphis and $1,641 in Garland.
This is a genuine split. Memphis 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 rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. Memphis at $1,181 average has pockets that run $981 and others at $1,581: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Memphis and Garland are 408 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,181 a month in Memphis to $1,641 a month in Garland, up $460 a month (39%).
Median household income goes from $51,736 in Memphis to $76,320 in Garland, up $24,584 (48%).
The crime index goes from 495 in Memphis to 87 in Garland, down 408 points (82%).
The move
Garland and Memphis are 408 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,641 a month in Garland to $1,181 a month in Memphis, down $460 a month (28%).
Median household income goes from $76,320 in Garland to $51,736 in Memphis, down $24,584 (32%).
The crime index goes from 87 in Garland to 495 in Memphis, up 408 points (469%).
Memphis, TN
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 Memphis and Garland? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
28% cheaper
Memphis rent is 28% cheaper than Garland
Memphis
Winner$1,181/mo
Garland
$1,641/mo
Typical rent runs $1,181 a month in Memphis versus $1,641 in Garland, so Memphis is 28% cheaper. That's roughly $460/month back in your pocket ($5,520/year). Over five years that's $27,600 you could redirect toward a down payment, travel, or investments. Housing is the bill you pay before groceries, childcare, or a social life, so that gap shows up in how often you eat out and how panicked a rent hike feels. If you already have a high-paying offer in Garland, the extra rent can be rational. If you do not, Memphis is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.
Planning to buy in Garland? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
48% higher
Garland's median income is 48% higher than Memphis
Memphis
$51,736
Garland
Winner$76,320
Median household income is $76,320 in Garland versus $51,736 in Memphis, so typical pay runs 48% higher in Garland (about $24,584 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, Garland is the stronger labor market on paper. Memphis can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
82% lower crime
Garland's crime index is 82% lower than Memphis
Memphis
495 (100 = avg)
Garland
Winner87 (100 = avg)
Garland's crime index is 87 versus 495 in Memphis (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 82% 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. Memphis can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
Neck and neck
Memphis and Garland are about even on typical weather.
Memphis
68°F avg · 78°F highs · comfort 100/100
Garland
66°F avg · 73°F highs · comfort 100/100
Memphis averages about 68°F (78°F highs); Garland averages about 66°F (73°F highs). Memphis sits near 68°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
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Memphis
Memphis is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 28% cheaper here at about $1,181 a month. Choose Memphis 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 48% 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 82% lower than Memphis (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 11/100 in Memphis). Typical rent is $1,641 in Garland and $1,181 in Memphis; do not assume the cheaper lease buys the calmer blocks.
Memphis rent at $1,181/month is still below Garland's $1,641, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Typical rent stays $1,181 in Memphis and $1,641 in Garland.
Garland is ahead on safety (64/100 vs 11/100); Memphis is still viable when you have a vetted ZIP there and $1,181/month rent plus $51,736 income fit your budget better than the safety margin.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
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