City comparison
No. Garland's crime index is 87 versus 136 in Newark, and its violent crime index is 62 versus 159, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Newark is cheaper. Median rent is $1,392 a month versus $1,641 in Garland.
The income gap between Newark and Garland is significant: $52,060 median household versus $76,320. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $1,392 in Newark and $1,641 in Garland.
Garland is not a close call here. It leads on the job market, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Newark 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 Newark has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Newark and Garland are 1,350 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,392 a month in Newark to $1,641 a month in Garland, up $249 a month (18%).
Median household income goes from $52,060 in Newark to $76,320 in Garland, up $24,260 (47%).
The crime index goes from 136 in Newark to 87 in Garland, down 49 points (36%).
The move
Garland and Newark are 1,350 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,641 a month in Garland to $1,392 a month in Newark, down $249 a month (15%).
Median household income goes from $76,320 in Garland to $52,060 in Newark, down $24,260 (32%).
The crime index goes from 87 in Garland to 136 in Newark, up 49 points (56%).
Newark, NJ
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 Newark and Garland? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
15% cheaper
Newark rent is 15% cheaper than Garland
Newark
Winner$1,392/mo
Garland
$1,641/mo
Typical rent runs $1,392 a month in Newark versus $1,641 in Garland, so Newark 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 $2,988, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Newark still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Garland.
Planning to buy in Garland? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
47% higher
Garland's median income is 47% higher than Newark
Newark
$52,060
Garland
Winner$76,320
Median household income is $76,320 in Garland versus $52,060 in Newark, so typical pay runs 47% higher in Garland (about $24,260 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. Newark can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
36% lower crime
Garland's crime index is 36% lower than Newark
Newark
136 (100 = avg)
Garland
Winner87 (100 = avg)
Garland's crime index is 87 versus 136 in Newark (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 36% 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. Newark can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
45% more comfortable
Garland weather is 45% more comfortable than Newark
Newark
54°F avg · 60°F highs · comfort 69/100
Garland
Winner66°F avg · 73°F highs · comfort 100/100
Newark averages about 54°F (60°F highs); Garland averages about 66°F (73°F highs). Newark averages around 54°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Garland sits near 66°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Garland scores 45% 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 Newark 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 Newark
Newark is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 15% cheaper here at about $1,392 a month. Choose Newark 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 plus year-round outdoor access
It is also a match for career-focused movers who want salary upside and year-round outdoor access. Median household income runs 47% 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 36% lower than Newark (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
Pay is the headline: Garland median income is $76,320 versus $52,060 in Newark (32% higher). Rent still runs $1,641/month in Garland and $1,392/month in Newark, so the wage edge only helps if your offer matches Garland rates.
Safety still diverges (64/100 in Garland vs 51/100 in Newark), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Weather averages land near 54°F in Newark and 66°F in Garland.
Pick Garland when your field pays toward $76,320 median income. Otherwise, Newark's case rests on a $1,392 lease that leaves more room in the monthly budget.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
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