City comparison
No. Garland's crime index is 87 versus 265 in Portland, and its violent crime index is 62 versus 207, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Garland is cheaper. Median rent is $1,641 a month versus $1,655 in Portland.
Safety is where Portland and Garland split most clearly. Garland scores 178 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,655 in Portland 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. Portland 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 Portland has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Portland and Garland are 1,632 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,655 a month in Portland to $1,641 a month in Garland, down $14 a month (1%).
Median household income goes from $90,919 in Portland to $76,320 in Garland, down $14,599 (16%).
The crime index goes from 265 in Portland to 87 in Garland, down 178 points (67%).
The move
Garland and Portland are 1,632 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,641 a month in Garland to $1,655 a month in Portland, up $14 a month (1%).
Median household income goes from $76,320 in Garland to $90,919 in Portland, up $14,599 (19%).
The crime index goes from 87 in Garland to 265 in Portland, up 178 points (205%).
Portland, OR
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 Portland and Garland? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
1% cheaper
Garland rent is 1% cheaper than Portland
Portland
$1,655/mo
Garland
Winner$1,641/mo
Typical rent runs $1,641 a month in Garland versus $1,655 in Portland, so Garland is 1% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $14, or $168 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
19% higher
Portland's median income is 19% higher than Garland
Portland
Winner$90,919
Garland
$76,320
Median household income is $90,919 in Portland versus $76,320 in Garland, so typical pay runs 19% higher in Portland (about $14,599 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, Portland 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
67% lower crime
Garland's crime index is 67% lower than Portland
Portland
265 (100 = avg)
Garland
Winner87 (100 = avg)
Garland's crime index is 87 versus 265 in Portland (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. Portland can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
33% more comfortable
Garland weather is 33% more comfortable than Portland
Portland
56°F avg · 64°F highs · comfort 75/100
Garland
Winner66°F avg · 73°F highs · comfort 100/100
Portland averages about 56°F (64°F highs); Garland averages about 66°F (73°F highs). Portland averages around 56°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 33% 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 Portland 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
Portland is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 19% higher here ($90,919). Start with Portland 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 1% 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 Portland on this page's weather index by 33%. Portland 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 67% lower than Portland (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 30/100 in Portland). With rent tied near $1,641/month, do not assume either lease buys the calmer blocks.
Median income is $90,919 in Portland versus $76,320 in Garland — with rent matched, the paycheck gap matters more.
Between Portland and Garland, Garland is ahead on safety — 64/100 safety versus 30/100. Lean Portland instead when you already know the Portland block you would live on and the safety gap is acceptable.
Weather averages land near 56°F in Portland and 66°F in Garland.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
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