City comparison
No. Garland's crime index is 87 versus 142 in Raleigh, and its violent crime index is 62 versus 128, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Raleigh is cheaper. Median rent is $1,572 a month versus $1,641 in Garland.
Safety is where Raleigh and Garland split most clearly. Garland scores 55 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,572 in Raleigh and $1,641 in Garland.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Raleigh is the easier city on typical rent, but Garland can still be the better daily fit depending on schools, safety, and climate. Both are defensible choices for different reasons.
The crime gap is citywide. Garland has rougher pockets and Raleigh has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Raleigh and Garland are 1,044 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,572 a month in Raleigh to $1,641 a month in Garland, up $69 a month (4%).
Median household income goes from $85,395 in Raleigh to $76,320 in Garland, down $9,075 (11%).
The crime index goes from 142 in Raleigh to 87 in Garland, down 55 points (39%).
The move
Garland and Raleigh are 1,044 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,641 a month in Garland to $1,572 a month in Raleigh, down $69 a month (4%).
Median household income goes from $76,320 in Garland to $85,395 in Raleigh, up $9,075 (12%).
The crime index goes from 87 in Garland to 142 in Raleigh, up 55 points (63%).
Raleigh, NC
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 Raleigh and Garland? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
4% cheaper
Raleigh rent is 4% cheaper than Garland
Raleigh
Winner$1,572/mo
Garland
$1,641/mo
Typical rent runs $1,572 a month in Raleigh versus $1,641 in Garland, so Raleigh is 4% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $69, or $828 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 Raleigh? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
12% higher
Raleigh's median income is 12% higher than Garland
Raleigh
Winner$85,395
Garland
$76,320
Median household income is $85,395 in Raleigh versus $76,320 in Garland, so typical pay runs 12% higher in Raleigh (about $9,075 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, Raleigh 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
39% lower crime
Garland's crime index is 39% lower than Raleigh
Raleigh
142 (100 = avg)
Garland
Winner87 (100 = avg)
Garland's crime index is 87 versus 142 in Raleigh (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 39% 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. Raleigh can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
16% more comfortable
Garland weather is 16% more comfortable than Raleigh
Raleigh
60°F avg · 69°F highs · comfort 86/100
Garland
Winner66°F avg · 73°F highs · comfort 100/100
Raleigh averages about 60°F (69°F highs); Garland averages about 66°F (73°F highs). Raleigh averages around 60°F. Garland sits near 66°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Garland scores 16% 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 Raleigh 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
Raleigh is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 4% cheaper here at about $1,572 a month. Choose Raleigh if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Raleigh is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 12% higher here ($85,395). Start with Raleigh 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
Pick Garland if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (66°F) beat Raleigh on this page's weather index by 16%. Raleigh 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 39% lower than Raleigh (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 49/100 in Raleigh). Typical rent is $1,641 in Garland and $1,572 in Raleigh; do not assume the cheaper lease buys the calmer blocks.
Safety still diverges (64/100 in Garland vs 49/100 in Raleigh), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Median income is $85,395 in Raleigh versus $76,320 in Garland.
Between Raleigh and Garland, Garland is ahead on safety — 64/100 safety versus 49/100. Lean Raleigh instead when you already know the Raleigh block you would live on and the safety gap is acceptable.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
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