City comparison
No. Garland's crime index is 87 versus 352 in St Louis, and its violent crime index is 62 versus 376, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
St Louis is cheaper. Median rent is $997 a month versus $1,641 in Garland.
Safety is where St Louis and Garland split most clearly. Garland scores 265 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $997 in St Louis and $1,641 in Garland.
Garland is not a close call here. It leads on the job market, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. St Louis 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. St Louis at $997 average has pockets that run $797 and others at $1,397: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
St Louis and Garland are 535 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $997 a month in St Louis to $1,641 a month in Garland, up $644 a month (65%).
Median household income goes from $56,160 in St Louis to $76,320 in Garland, up $20,160 (36%).
The crime index goes from 352 in St Louis to 87 in Garland, down 265 points (75%).
The move
Garland and St Louis are 535 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,641 a month in Garland to $997 a month in St Louis, down $644 a month (39%).
Median household income goes from $76,320 in Garland to $56,160 in St Louis, down $20,160 (26%).
The crime index goes from 87 in Garland to 352 in St Louis, up 265 points (305%).
St Louis, MO
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 St Louis and Garland? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
39% cheaper
St Louis rent is 39% cheaper than Garland
St Louis
Winner$997/mo
Garland
$1,641/mo
Typical rent runs $997 a month in St Louis versus $1,641 in Garland, so St Louis is 39% cheaper. That's roughly $644/month back in your pocket ($7,728/year). Over five years that's $38,640 you could redirect toward a down payment, travel, or investments. Housing is the bill you pay before groceries, childcare, or a social life, so that gap shows up in how often you eat out and how panicked a rent hike feels. If you already have a high-paying offer in Garland, the extra rent can be rational. If you do not, St Louis is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.
Planning to buy in Garland? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
36% higher
Garland's median income is 36% higher than St Louis
St Louis
$56,160
Garland
Winner$76,320
Median household income is $76,320 in Garland versus $56,160 in St Louis, so typical pay runs 36% higher in Garland (about $20,160 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, Garland is the stronger labor market on paper. St Louis can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
75% lower crime
Garland's crime index is 75% lower than St Louis
St Louis
352 (100 = avg)
Garland
Winner87 (100 = avg)
Garland's crime index is 87 versus 352 in St Louis (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 75% 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. St Louis can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
25% more comfortable
Garland weather is 25% more comfortable than St Louis
St Louis
58°F avg · 67°F highs · comfort 80/100
Garland
Winner66°F avg · 73°F highs · comfort 100/100
St Louis averages about 58°F (67°F highs); Garland averages about 66°F (73°F highs). St Louis averages around 58°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 25% 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 St Louis if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
Fit check
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to St Louis
St Louis is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 39% cheaper here at about $997 a month. Choose St Louis if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside plus year-round outdoor access
It is also a match for career-focused movers who want salary upside and year-round outdoor access. Median household income runs 36% higher ($76,320), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 66°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Garland is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 75% lower than St Louis (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
St Louis carries the heavier crime signal on this page (22/100 safety vs 64/100 in Garland). That 42-point spread matters more than the $644 rent gap when you are choosing where to walk after dark.
Garland still pays more locally ($76,320 median income vs $56,160), which can offset the lease if your field pays Garland rates.
Median income is $76,320 in Garland versus $56,160 in St Louis.
Garland clears the bar on safety in this dataset. St Louis deserves a serious look only when you already know the St Louis block you would live on and the safety gap is acceptable.
Common questions
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