City comparison
No. Garland's crime index is 87 versus 151 in Reno, and its violent crime index is 62 versus 156, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Reno is cheaper. Median rent is $1,556 a month versus $1,641 in Garland.
Safety is where Reno and Garland split most clearly. Garland scores 64 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,556 in Reno and $1,641 in Garland.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Reno 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 Reno has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Reno and Garland are 1,366 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,556 a month in Reno to $1,641 a month in Garland, up $85 a month (5%).
Median household income goes from $80,760 in Reno to $76,320 in Garland, down $4,440 (5%).
The crime index goes from 151 in Reno to 87 in Garland, down 64 points (42%).
The move
Garland and Reno are 1,366 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,641 a month in Garland to $1,556 a month in Reno, down $85 a month (5%).
Median household income goes from $76,320 in Garland to $80,760 in Reno, up $4,440 (6%).
The crime index goes from 87 in Garland to 151 in Reno, up 64 points (74%).
Reno, NV
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 Reno and Garland? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
5% cheaper
Reno rent is 5% cheaper than Garland
Reno
Winner$1,556/mo
Garland
$1,641/mo
Typical rent runs $1,556 a month in Reno versus $1,641 in Garland, so Reno is 5% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $85, or $1,020 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 Reno? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
6% higher
Reno's median income is 6% higher than Garland
Reno
Winner$80,760
Garland
$76,320
Median household income is $80,760 in Reno versus $76,320 in Garland, so typical pay runs 6% higher in Reno (about $4,440 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
42% lower crime
Garland's crime index is 42% lower than Reno
Reno
151 (100 = avg)
Garland
Winner87 (100 = avg)
Garland's crime index is 87 versus 151 in Reno (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 42% 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. Reno can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
9% more comfortable
Garland weather is 9% more comfortable than Reno
Reno
62°F avg · 71°F highs · comfort 92/100
Garland
Winner66°F avg · 73°F highs · comfort 100/100
Reno averages about 62°F (71°F highs); Garland averages about 66°F (73°F highs). Reno averages around 62°F. Garland sits near 66°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Garland scores 9% 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 Reno 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
Reno is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 5% cheaper here at about $1,556 a month. Choose Reno if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Reno is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 6% higher here ($80,760). Start with Reno 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 Reno on this page's weather index by 9%. Reno 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 42% lower than Reno (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
Reno carries the heavier crime signal on this page (47/100 safety vs 64/100 in Garland). That 17-point spread matters more than the $85 rent gap when you are choosing where to walk after dark.
Safety still diverges (64/100 in Garland vs 47/100 in Reno), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Median income is $80,760 in Reno versus $76,320 in Garland.
If safety drives your move, Garland is the stronger match (64/100 safety versus 47/100). If an employer or family tie already points to Reno, treat $1,556/month rent and $80,760 income as the numbers that actually govern the decision.
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