City comparison
No. Garland's crime index is 87 versus 140 in Miami, and its violent crime index is 62 versus 121, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Garland is cheaper. Median rent is $1,641 a month versus $1,758 in Miami.
Safety is where Miami and Garland split most clearly. Garland scores 53 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,758 in Miami and $1,641 in Garland.
Garland is not a close call here. It leads on cost of living, the job market, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Miami makes sense if you have a specific reason, a job offer, family, or a neighborhood you already know, but on the numbers alone Garland is the stronger move.
The crime gap is citywide. Garland has rougher pockets and Miami has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Miami and Garland are 1,105 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,758 a month in Miami to $1,641 a month in Garland, down $117 a month (7%).
Median household income goes from $62,462 in Miami to $76,320 in Garland, up $13,858 (22%).
The crime index goes from 140 in Miami to 87 in Garland, down 53 points (38%).
The move
Garland and Miami are 1,105 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,641 a month in Garland to $1,758 a month in Miami, up $117 a month (7%).
Median household income goes from $76,320 in Garland to $62,462 in Miami, down $13,858 (18%).
The crime index goes from 87 in Garland to 140 in Miami, up 53 points (61%).
Miami, 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 Miami and Garland? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
7% cheaper
Garland rent is 7% cheaper than Miami
Miami
$1,758/mo
Garland
Winner$1,641/mo
Typical rent runs $1,641 a month in Garland versus $1,758 in Miami, so Garland is 7% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $117, or $1,404 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 Garland? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
22% higher
Garland's median income is 22% higher than Miami
Miami
$62,462
Garland
Winner$76,320
Median household income is $76,320 in Garland versus $62,462 in Miami, so typical pay runs 22% higher in Garland (about $13,858 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. Miami can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
38% lower crime
Garland's crime index is 38% lower than Miami
Miami
140 (100 = avg)
Garland
Winner87 (100 = avg)
Garland's crime index is 87 versus 140 in Miami (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 38% 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. Miami can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
6% more comfortable
Garland weather is 6% more comfortable than Miami
Miami
81°F avg · 83°F highs · comfort 94/100
Garland
Winner66°F avg · 73°F highs · comfort 100/100
Miami averages about 81°F (83°F highs); Garland averages about 66°F (73°F highs). Miami averages around 81°F. Garland sits near 66°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Garland scores 6% closer to the 65-80°F comfort band on this page, so it is the easier default for year-round outdoor errands and evenings. Choose Miami if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
Fit check
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Miami
On these five categories Garland takes the scoreboard, so you should not choose Miami because the stats are kinder. They are not. Choose Miami only if a job offer, family, a specific neighborhood, or a life you already started there outweighs the box score. Plenty of good moves ignore the aggregate; just do it on purpose.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside plus year-round outdoor access
Garland is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 7% 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.
It is also a match for career-focused movers who want salary upside and year-round outdoor access. Median household income runs 22% higher ($76,320), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 66°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Garland is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 38% lower than Miami (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
Safety is the widest gap: Garland scores 64/100 versus 50/100 in Miami. Rent is $1,641/month in Garland and $1,758/month in Miami, so you are not buying calm streets for free.
Safety still diverges (64/100 in Garland vs 50/100 in Miami), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Median income is $76,320 in Garland versus $62,462 in Miami.
Garland is ahead on safety (64/100 vs 50/100); Miami is still viable when you have a vetted ZIP there and $1,758/month rent plus $62,462 income fit your budget better than the safety margin.
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