City comparison
No. Garland's crime index is 87 versus 108 in Mesa, and its violent crime index is 62 versus 131, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Mesa is cheaper. Median rent is $1,620 a month versus $1,641 in Garland.
Mesa 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 $1,620 in Mesa and $1,641 in Garland, and median household income lands at $82,752 versus $76,320. Use the category rows below to see which gaps would change your daily life.
This is a genuine split. Mesa wins on cost of living and the job market and Garland wins on safety. 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
Mesa and Garland are 878 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,620 a month in Mesa to $1,641 a month in Garland, up $21 a month (1%).
Median household income goes from $82,752 in Mesa to $76,320 in Garland, down $6,432 (8%).
The crime index goes from 108 in Mesa to 87 in Garland, down 21 points (19%).
The move
Garland and Mesa are 878 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,641 a month in Garland to $1,620 a month in Mesa, down $21 a month (1%).
Median household income goes from $76,320 in Garland to $82,752 in Mesa, up $6,432 (8%).
The crime index goes from 87 in Garland to 108 in Mesa, up 21 points (24%).
Mesa, AZ
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 Mesa and Garland? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
1% cheaper
Mesa rent is 1% cheaper than Garland
Mesa
Winner$1,620/mo
Garland
$1,641/mo
Typical rent runs $1,620 a month in Mesa versus $1,641 in Garland, so Mesa is 1% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $21, or $252 a year: noticeable, but rent alone should not pick the city. Use this as a tie-breaker after you compare income, schools, and crime, unless you are already stretching every dollar.
Planning to buy in Mesa? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
8% higher
Mesa's median income is 8% higher than Garland
Mesa
Winner$82,752
Garland
$76,320
Median household income is $82,752 in Mesa versus $76,320 in Garland, so typical pay runs 8% higher in Mesa (about $6,432 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
19% lower crime
Garland's crime index is 19% lower than Mesa
Mesa
108 (100 = avg)
Garland
Winner87 (100 = avg)
Garland's crime index is 87 versus 108 in Mesa (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 19% 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. Mesa can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
Neck and neck
Mesa and Garland are about even on typical weather.
Mesa
79°F avg · 87°F highs · comfort 100/100
Garland
66°F avg · 73°F highs · comfort 100/100
Mesa averages about 79°F (87°F highs); Garland averages about 66°F (73°F highs). Mesa sits near 79°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
Mesa is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 1% cheaper here at about $1,620 a month. Choose Mesa if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Mesa is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 8% higher here ($82,752). Start with Mesa 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 better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 19% lower than Mesa (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
Weather separates these metros: $1,620/month rent in Mesa at 79°F versus $1,641 in Garland at 66°F. Income runs $82,752 vs $76,320, but the daily feel of the move is the temperature gap.
Median income is $82,752 in Mesa versus $76,320 in Garland.
Between Mesa and Garland, Mesa is ahead on climate — 79°F typical weather versus 66°F. Lean Garland instead when you would rather tolerate 66°F than optimize for Mesa's comfort score.
Safety scores read 58/100 in Mesa and 64/100 in Garland.
Common questions
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Next steps
Quotes and listings for Mesa when you're ready to act.
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Mesa and Garland, plus other cities in AZ and TX.
