City comparison
No. Garland's crime index is 87 versus 252 in Seattle, and its violent crime index is 62 versus 216, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Garland is cheaper. Median rent is $1,641 a month versus $2,030 in Seattle.
Safety is where Seattle and Garland split most clearly. Garland scores 165 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $2,030 in Seattle 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. Seattle 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 rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. Garland at $1,641 average has pockets that run $1,441 and others at $2,041: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Seattle and Garland are 1,680 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $2,030 a month in Seattle to $1,641 a month in Garland, down $389 a month (19%).
Median household income goes from $123,860 in Seattle to $76,320 in Garland, down $47,540 (38%).
The crime index goes from 252 in Seattle to 87 in Garland, down 165 points (65%).
The move
Garland and Seattle are 1,680 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,641 a month in Garland to $2,030 a month in Seattle, up $389 a month (24%).
Median household income goes from $76,320 in Garland to $123,860 in Seattle, up $47,540 (62%).
The crime index goes from 87 in Garland to 252 in Seattle, up 165 points (190%).
Seattle, WA
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 Seattle and Garland? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
19% cheaper
Garland rent is 19% cheaper than Seattle
Seattle
$2,030/mo
Garland
Winner$1,641/mo
Typical rent runs $1,641 a month in Garland versus $2,030 in Seattle, so Garland is 19% 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 $4,668, 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 Seattle.
Planning to buy in Garland? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
62% higher
Seattle's median income is 62% higher than Garland
Seattle
Winner$123,860
Garland
$76,320
Median household income is $123,860 in Seattle versus $76,320 in Garland, so typical pay runs 62% higher in Seattle (about $47,540 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, Seattle 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
65% lower crime
Garland's crime index is 65% lower than Seattle
Seattle
252 (100 = avg)
Garland
Winner87 (100 = avg)
Garland's crime index is 87 versus 252 in Seattle (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 65% 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. Seattle can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
39% more comfortable
Garland weather is 39% more comfortable than Seattle
Seattle
55°F avg · 62°F highs · comfort 72/100
Garland
Winner66°F avg · 73°F highs · comfort 100/100
Seattle averages about 55°F (62°F highs); Garland averages about 66°F (73°F highs). Seattle averages around 55°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 39% 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 Seattle 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
Seattle is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 62% higher here ($123,860). Start with Seattle 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 19% 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 Seattle on this page's weather index by 39%. Seattle 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 65% lower than Seattle (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
Seattle carries the heavier crime signal on this page (32/100 safety vs 64/100 in Garland). That 32-point spread matters more than the $389 rent gap when you are choosing where to walk after dark.
Garland rent at $1,641/month is still below Seattle's $2,030, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Weather averages land near 55°F in Seattle and 66°F in Garland.
Pick Garland when you want the stronger safety signal (64/100). Otherwise, Seattle's case rests on a Seattle ZIP you trust at $2,030 rent.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
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