City comparison
Yes. Plano's crime index is 62 versus 87 in Garland, and its violent crime index is 43 versus 62, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Garland is cheaper. Median rent is $1,641 a month versus $1,841 in Plano.
The income gap between Plano and Garland is significant: $112,253 median household versus $76,320. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $1,841 in Plano and $1,641 in Garland.
This is a genuine split. Plano wins on the job market and safety and Garland wins on cost of living. Which matters more depends entirely on how you live: remote workers and families weight these categories differently than commuters or single professionals.
The crime gap is citywide. Plano has rougher pockets and Garland has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Plano and Garland are 8 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,841 a month in Plano to $1,641 a month in Garland, down $200 a month (11%).
Median household income goes from $112,253 in Plano to $76,320 in Garland, down $35,933 (32%).
The crime index goes from 62 in Plano to 87 in Garland, up 25 points (40%).
The move
Garland and Plano are 8 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,641 a month in Garland to $1,841 a month in Plano, up $200 a month (12%).
Median household income goes from $76,320 in Garland to $112,253 in Plano, up $35,933 (47%).
The crime index goes from 87 in Garland to 62 in Plano, down 25 points (29%).
Plano, TX
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 Plano and Garland? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
11% cheaper
Garland rent is 11% cheaper than Plano
Plano
$1,841/mo
Garland
Winner$1,641/mo
Typical rent runs $1,641 a month in Garland versus $1,841 in Plano, so Garland is 11% 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 $2,400, 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 Plano.
Planning to buy in Plano? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
47% higher
Plano's median income is 47% higher than Garland
Plano
Winner$112,253
Garland
$76,320
Median household income is $112,253 in Plano versus $76,320 in Garland, so typical pay runs 47% higher in Plano (about $35,933 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, Plano 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
29% lower crime
Plano's crime index is 29% lower than Garland
Plano
Winner62 (100 = avg)
Garland
87 (100 = avg)
Plano's crime index is 62 versus 87 in Garland (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 29% lower in Plano. 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, Plano is the easier city. Garland can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
Neck and neck
Plano and Garland are about even on typical weather.
Plano
69°F avg · 77°F highs · comfort 100/100
Garland
66°F avg · 73°F highs · comfort 100/100
Plano averages about 69°F (77°F highs); Garland averages about 66°F (73°F highs). Plano sits near 69°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
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Plano is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 47% higher here ($112,253). Start with Plano if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Plano is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 29% lower than Garland (62 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.
Fit check
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Garland
Garland is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 11% 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.
Bottom line
Pay is the headline: Plano median income is $112,253 versus $76,320 in Garland (32% higher). Rent still runs $1,841/month in Plano and $1,641/month in Garland, so the wage edge only helps if your offer matches Plano rates.
Plano still pays more locally ($112,253 median income vs $76,320), which can offset the lease if your field pays Plano rates.
Typical rent stays $1,641 in Garland and $1,841 in Plano.
Pick Plano when your field pays toward $112,253 median income. Otherwise, Garland's case rests on a $1,641 lease that leaves more room in the monthly budget.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Plano and Garland, plus other cities in TX.
