City comparison
No. Garland's crime index is 87 versus 165 in St Petersburg, and its violent crime index is 62 versus 167, using 2023 FBI data for St Petersburg and 2024-2025 FBI data for Garland.
Garland is cheaper. Median rent is $1,641 a month versus $1,663 in St Petersburg.
Safety is where St Petersburg and Garland split most clearly. Garland scores 78 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,663 in St Petersburg and $1,641 in Garland.
Garland is not a close call here. It leads on cost of living, the job market, and safety by margins that add up in daily life. St Petersburg 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 St Petersburg has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
St Petersburg and Garland are 899 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,663 a month in St Petersburg to $1,641 a month in Garland, down $22 a month (1%).
Median household income goes from $75,192 in St Petersburg to $76,320 in Garland, up $1,128 (2%).
The crime index goes from 165 in St Petersburg to 87 in Garland, down 78 points (47%).
The move
Garland and St Petersburg are 899 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,641 a month in Garland to $1,663 a month in St Petersburg, up $22 a month (1%).
Median household income goes from $76,320 in Garland to $75,192 in St Petersburg, down $1,128 (1%).
The crime index goes from 87 in Garland to 165 in St Petersburg, up 78 points (90%).
St Petersburg, FL
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 Petersburg and Garland? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
1% cheaper
Garland rent is 1% cheaper than St Petersburg
St Petersburg
$1,663/mo
Garland
Winner$1,641/mo
Typical rent runs $1,641 a month in Garland versus $1,663 in St Petersburg, so Garland is 1% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $22, or $264 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
2% higher
Garland's median income is 2% higher than St Petersburg
St Petersburg
$75,192
Garland
Winner$76,320
Median household income is $76,320 in Garland versus $75,192 in St Petersburg, so typical pay runs 2% higher in Garland (about $1,128 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
47% lower crime
Garland's crime index is 47% lower than St Petersburg
St Petersburg
165 (100 = avg)
Garland
Winner87 (100 = avg)
Garland's crime index is 87 versus 165 in St Petersburg (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 47% 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 Petersburg can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
Neck and neck
St Petersburg and Garland are about even on typical weather.
St Petersburg
77°F avg · 82°F highs · comfort 100/100
Garland
66°F avg · 73°F highs · comfort 100/100
St Petersburg averages about 77°F (82°F highs); Garland averages about 66°F (73°F highs). St Petersburg sits near 77°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Garland sits near 66°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. On daily comfort these two are close enough that the better fit is whichever season you already know you can live with.
Fit check
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to St Petersburg
On these five categories Garland takes the scoreboard, so you should not choose St Petersburg because the stats are kinder. They are not. Choose St Petersburg only if a job offer, family, a specific neighborhood, or a life you already started there outweighs the box score. Plenty of good moves ignore the aggregate; just do it on purpose.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
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.
Garland is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 2% higher here ($76,320). Start with Garland if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Garland is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 47% lower than St Petersburg (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
Safety is the widest gap: Garland scores 64/100 versus 45/100 in St Petersburg. Typical rent is the same $1,641/month in both cities, so you are choosing streets and blocks, not a cheaper lease.
Median income is $76,320 in Garland versus $75,192 in St Petersburg — with rent matched, the paycheck gap matters more.
Between St Petersburg and Garland, Garland is ahead on safety — 64/100 safety versus 45/100. Lean St Petersburg instead when you already know the St Petersburg block you would live on and the safety gap is acceptable.
Common questions
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