City comparison
No. Garland's crime index is 87 versus 261 in Philadelphia, and its violent crime index is 62 versus 252, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Philadelphia is cheaper. Median rent is $1,397 a month versus $1,641 in Garland.
Safety is where Philadelphia and Garland split most clearly. Garland scores 174 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,397 in Philadelphia 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. Philadelphia 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 Philadelphia has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Philadelphia and Garland are 1,285 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,397 a month in Philadelphia to $1,641 a month in Garland, up $244 a month (17%).
Median household income goes from $61,953 in Philadelphia to $76,320 in Garland, up $14,367 (23%).
The crime index goes from 261 in Philadelphia to 87 in Garland, down 174 points (67%).
The move
Garland and Philadelphia are 1,285 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,641 a month in Garland to $1,397 a month in Philadelphia, down $244 a month (15%).
Median household income goes from $76,320 in Garland to $61,953 in Philadelphia, down $14,367 (19%).
The crime index goes from 87 in Garland to 261 in Philadelphia, up 174 points (200%).
Philadelphia, PA
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 Philadelphia and Garland? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
15% cheaper
Philadelphia rent is 15% cheaper than Garland
Philadelphia
Winner$1,397/mo
Garland
$1,641/mo
Typical rent runs $1,397 a month in Philadelphia versus $1,641 in Garland, so Philadelphia 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 $2,928, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Philadelphia 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
23% higher
Garland's median income is 23% higher than Philadelphia
Philadelphia
$61,953
Garland
Winner$76,320
Median household income is $76,320 in Garland versus $61,953 in Philadelphia, so typical pay runs 23% higher in Garland (about $14,367 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. Philadelphia can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
67% lower crime
Garland's crime index is 67% lower than Philadelphia
Philadelphia
261 (100 = avg)
Garland
Winner87 (100 = avg)
Garland's crime index is 87 versus 261 in Philadelphia (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 67% 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. Philadelphia 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 Philadelphia
Philadelphia
54°F avg · 61°F highs · comfort 69/100
Garland
Winner66°F avg · 73°F highs · comfort 100/100
Philadelphia averages about 54°F (61°F highs); Garland averages about 66°F (73°F highs). Philadelphia 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 Philadelphia 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 Philadelphia
Philadelphia is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 15% cheaper here at about $1,397 a month. Choose Philadelphia 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 23% 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 67% lower than Philadelphia (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
Philadelphia carries the heavier crime signal on this page (31/100 safety vs 64/100 in Garland). That 33-point spread matters more than the $244 rent gap when you are choosing where to walk after dark.
Safety still diverges (64/100 in Garland vs 31/100 in Philadelphia), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Median income is $76,320 in Garland versus $61,953 in Philadelphia.
Pick Garland when you want the stronger safety signal (64/100). Otherwise, Philadelphia's case rests on a Philadelphia ZIP you trust at $1,397 rent.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
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