City comparison
No. Garland's crime index is 87 versus 221 in Toledo, and its violent crime index is 62 versus 279, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Toledo is cheaper. Median rent is $934 a month versus $1,641 in Garland.
Climate is the sharpest divide between Toledo and Garland. Toledo averages 51°F while Garland averages 66°F, a difference that affects utility bills, outdoor lifestyle, and how you feel nine months of the year. Rent runs $934 versus $1,641.
Garland is not a close call here. It leads on the job market, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Toledo 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. Toledo at $934 average has pockets that run $734 and others at $1,334: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Toledo and Garland are 938 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $934 a month in Toledo to $1,641 a month in Garland, up $707 a month (76%).
Median household income goes from $62,224 in Toledo to $76,320 in Garland, up $14,096 (23%).
The crime index goes from 221 in Toledo to 87 in Garland, down 134 points (61%).
The move
Garland and Toledo are 938 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,641 a month in Garland to $934 a month in Toledo, down $707 a month (43%).
Median household income goes from $76,320 in Garland to $62,224 in Toledo, down $14,096 (18%).
The crime index goes from 87 in Garland to 221 in Toledo, up 134 points (154%).
Toledo, OH
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 Toledo and Garland? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
43% cheaper
Toledo rent is 43% cheaper than Garland
Toledo
Winner$934/mo
Garland
$1,641/mo
Typical rent runs $934 a month in Toledo versus $1,641 in Garland, so Toledo is 43% cheaper. That's roughly $707/month back in your pocket ($8,484/year). Over five years that's $42,420 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, Toledo 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
23% higher
Garland's median income is 23% higher than Toledo
Toledo
$62,224
Garland
Winner$76,320
Median household income is $76,320 in Garland versus $62,224 in Toledo, so typical pay runs 23% higher in Garland (about $14,096 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. Toledo can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
61% lower crime
Garland's crime index is 61% lower than Toledo
Toledo
221 (100 = avg)
Garland
Winner87 (100 = avg)
Garland's crime index is 87 versus 221 in Toledo (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 61% 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. Toledo can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
64% more comfortable
Garland weather is 64% more comfortable than Toledo
Toledo
51°F avg · 58°F highs · comfort 61/100
Garland
Winner66°F avg · 73°F highs · comfort 100/100
Toledo averages about 51°F (58°F highs); Garland averages about 66°F (73°F highs). Toledo averages around 51°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 64% 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 Toledo 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 Toledo
Toledo is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 43% cheaper here at about $934 a month. Choose Toledo 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 23% 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 61% lower than Toledo (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
Toledo carries the heavier crime signal on this page (36/100 safety vs 64/100 in Garland). That 28-point spread matters more than the $707 rent gap when you are choosing where to walk after dark.
Garland still pays more locally ($76,320 median income vs $62,224), which can offset the lease if your field pays Garland rates.
Weather averages land near 51°F in Toledo and 66°F in Garland.
Garland clears the bar on safety in this dataset. Toledo deserves a serious look only when you already know the Toledo block you would live on and the safety gap is acceptable.
Common questions
Ready to move to Garland?
Next steps
Quotes and listings for Garland when you're ready to act.
Keep researching
Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Toledo and Garland, plus other cities in OH and TX.
