City comparison
No. Garland's crime index is 87 versus 242 in Orlando, and its violent crime index is 62 versus 241, using 2022 FBI data for Orlando and 2024-2025 FBI data for Garland.
Garland is cheaper. Median rent is $1,641 a month versus $1,747 in Orlando.
Safety is where Orlando and Garland split most clearly. Garland scores 155 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,747 in Orlando and $1,641 in Garland.
Garland is not a close call here. It leads on cost of living, the job market, and safety by margins that add up in daily life. Orlando 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 Orlando has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Orlando and Garland are 954 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,747 a month in Orlando to $1,641 a month in Garland, down $106 a month (6%).
Median household income goes from $72,336 in Orlando to $76,320 in Garland, up $3,984 (6%).
The crime index goes from 242 in Orlando to 87 in Garland, down 155 points (64%).
The move
Garland and Orlando are 954 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,641 a month in Garland to $1,747 a month in Orlando, up $106 a month (6%).
Median household income goes from $76,320 in Garland to $72,336 in Orlando, down $3,984 (5%).
The crime index goes from 87 in Garland to 242 in Orlando, up 155 points (178%).
Orlando, 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 Orlando and Garland? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
6% cheaper
Garland rent is 6% cheaper than Orlando
Orlando
$1,747/mo
Garland
Winner$1,641/mo
Typical rent runs $1,641 a month in Garland versus $1,747 in Orlando, so Garland is 6% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $106, or $1,272 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
6% higher
Garland's median income is 6% higher than Orlando
Orlando
$72,336
Garland
Winner$76,320
Median household income is $76,320 in Garland versus $72,336 in Orlando, so typical pay runs 6% higher in Garland (about $3,984 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
64% lower crime
Garland's crime index is 64% lower than Orlando
Orlando
242 (100 = avg)
Garland
Winner87 (100 = avg)
Garland's crime index is 87 versus 242 in Orlando (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 64% 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. Orlando can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
Neck and neck
Orlando and Garland are about even on typical weather.
Orlando
71°F avg · 77°F highs · comfort 100/100
Garland
66°F avg · 73°F highs · comfort 100/100
Orlando averages about 71°F (77°F highs); Garland averages about 66°F (73°F highs). Orlando sits near 71°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 Orlando
On these five categories Garland takes the scoreboard, so you should not choose Orlando because the stats are kinder. They are not. Choose Orlando 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 and professional growth
Garland is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 6% 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.
Garland is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 6% 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 64% lower than Orlando (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 33/100 in Orlando). Typical rent is $1,641 in Garland and $1,747 in Orlando; do not assume the cheaper lease buys the calmer blocks.
With only $106 separating typical rent, run both offer letters before housing cost alone picks the city.
Typical rent stays $1,641 in Garland and $1,747 in Orlando.
Garland is ahead on safety (64/100 vs 33/100); Orlando is still viable when you have a vetted ZIP there and $1,747/month rent plus $72,336 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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