City comparison
No. Garland's crime index is 87 versus 93 in Tampa, and its violent crime index is 62 versus 112, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Garland is cheaper. Median rent is $1,641 a month versus $1,701 in Tampa.
Tampa and Garland are closer on paper than many city pairs, so the move comes down to how you weight cost, safety, and climate. Typical rent sits near $1,701 in Tampa and $1,641 in Garland, and median household income lands at $75,475 versus $76,320. Use the category rows below to see which gaps would change your daily life.
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. Tampa 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.
Visit both if you can. Cities reveal themselves in the ordinary moments, a Tuesday morning commute, a Saturday errand run, not on a weekend visit.
The move
Tampa and Garland are 911 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,701 a month in Tampa to $1,641 a month in Garland, down $60 a month (4%).
Median household income goes from $75,475 in Tampa to $76,320 in Garland, up $845 (1%).
The crime index goes from 93 in Tampa to 87 in Garland, down 6 points (6%).
The move
Garland and Tampa are 911 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,641 a month in Garland to $1,701 a month in Tampa, up $60 a month (4%).
Median household income goes from $76,320 in Garland to $75,475 in Tampa, down $845 (1%).
The crime index goes from 87 in Garland to 93 in Tampa, up 6 points (7%).
Tampa, 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 Tampa and Garland? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
4% cheaper
Garland rent is 4% cheaper than Tampa
Tampa
$1,701/mo
Garland
Winner$1,641/mo
Typical rent runs $1,641 a month in Garland versus $1,701 in Tampa, so Garland is 4% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $60, or $720 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
1% higher
Garland's median income is 1% higher than Tampa
Tampa
$75,475
Garland
Winner$76,320
Median household income is $76,320 in Garland versus $75,475 in Tampa, so typical pay runs 1% higher in Garland (about $845 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
6% lower crime
Garland's crime index is 6% lower than Tampa
Tampa
93 (100 = avg)
Garland
Winner87 (100 = avg)
Garland's crime index is 87 versus 93 in Tampa (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 6% lower in Garland. The difference is noticeable without being night-and-day. You will still want to pick the neighborhood carefully in Garland, but you will usually spend less energy on constant vigilance than you would in Tampa. Tour both cities after dark before you let a modest index gap close the decision.
Typical weather
Neck and neck
Tampa and Garland are about even on typical weather.
Tampa
75°F avg · 83°F highs · comfort 100/100
Garland
66°F avg · 73°F highs · comfort 100/100
Tampa averages about 75°F (83°F highs); Garland averages about 66°F (73°F highs). Tampa sits near 75°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 Tampa
On these five categories Garland takes the scoreboard, so you should not choose Tampa because the stats are kinder. They are not. Choose Tampa 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 4% 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 1% 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 6% lower than Tampa (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 62/100 in Tampa). Typical rent is $1,641 in Garland and $1,701 in Tampa; do not assume the cheaper lease buys the calmer blocks.
With only $60 separating typical rent, run both offer letters before housing cost alone picks the city.
Median income is $76,320 in Garland versus $75,475 in Tampa.
Most movers who prioritize safety land in Garland; Tampa only makes sense when you have walked the Tampa ZIP you would rent and accept the trade for $1,701 rent.
Common questions
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Next steps
Quotes and listings for Garland when you're ready to act.
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Tampa and Garland, plus other cities in FL and TX.
