City comparison
No. Garland's crime index is 87 versus 434 in Oakland, and its violent crime index is 62 versus 491, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Garland is cheaper. Median rent is $1,641 a month versus $1,979 in Oakland.
Safety is where Oakland and Garland split most clearly. Garland scores 347 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,979 in Oakland and $1,641 in Garland.
Garland is not a close call here. It leads on cost of living, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Oakland 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 rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. Garland at $1,641 average has pockets that run $1,441 and others at $2,041: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Oakland and Garland are 1,478 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,979 a month in Oakland to $1,641 a month in Garland, down $338 a month (17%).
Median household income goes from $101,600 in Oakland to $76,320 in Garland, down $25,280 (25%).
The crime index goes from 434 in Oakland to 87 in Garland, down 347 points (80%).
The move
Garland and Oakland are 1,478 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,641 a month in Garland to $1,979 a month in Oakland, up $338 a month (21%).
Median household income goes from $76,320 in Garland to $101,600 in Oakland, up $25,280 (33%).
The crime index goes from 87 in Garland to 434 in Oakland, up 347 points (399%).
Oakland, 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 Oakland and Garland? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
17% cheaper
Garland rent is 17% cheaper than Oakland
Oakland
$1,979/mo
Garland
Winner$1,641/mo
Typical rent runs $1,641 a month in Garland versus $1,979 in Oakland, so Garland is 17% 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 $4,056, 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 Oakland.
Planning to buy in Garland? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
33% higher
Oakland's median income is 33% higher than Garland
Oakland
Winner$101,600
Garland
$76,320
Median household income is $101,600 in Oakland versus $76,320 in Garland, so typical pay runs 33% higher in Oakland (about $25,280 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, Oakland is the stronger labor market on paper. Garland can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
80% lower crime
Garland's crime index is 80% lower than Oakland
Oakland
434 (100 = avg)
Garland
Winner87 (100 = avg)
Garland's crime index is 87 versus 434 in Oakland (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 80% 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. Oakland 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 Oakland
Oakland
63°F avg · 75°F highs · comfort 94/100
Garland
Winner66°F avg · 73°F highs · comfort 100/100
Oakland averages about 63°F (75°F highs); Garland averages about 66°F (73°F highs). Oakland averages around 63°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 Oakland if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Oakland is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 33% higher here ($101,600). Start with Oakland if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Fit check
Outdoor enthusiasts and people who need year-round access to nature for their wellbeing
Garland is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 17% 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.
Pick Garland if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (66°F) beat Oakland on this page's weather index by 6%. Oakland may pay more or cost less, but Garland is the city where the forecast fights you less.
Garland is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 80% lower than Oakland (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
Oakland carries the heavier crime signal on this page (15/100 safety vs 64/100 in Garland). That 49-point spread matters more than the $338 rent gap when you are choosing where to walk after dark.
Garland rent at $1,641/month is still below Oakland's $1,979, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Typical rent stays $1,641 in Garland and $1,979 in Oakland.
Garland clears the bar on safety in this dataset. Oakland deserves a serious look only when you already know the Oakland block you would live on and the safety gap is acceptable.
Common questions
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Nearby research
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