City comparison
Yes. Virginia Beach's crime index is 62 versus 87 in Garland, and its violent crime index is 29 versus 62, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Garland is cheaper. Median rent is $1,641 a month versus $1,714 in Virginia Beach.
Safety is where Virginia Beach and Garland split most clearly. Virginia Beach scores 25 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,714 in Virginia Beach and $1,641 in Garland.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Garland costs less and Virginia Beach pays more: the right call depends on whether you are optimizing for take-home pay or monthly burn rate. Both are defensible choices for different reasons.
The crime gap is citywide. Virginia Beach has rougher pockets and Garland has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Virginia Beach and Garland are 1,200 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,714 a month in Virginia Beach to $1,641 a month in Garland, down $73 a month (4%).
Median household income goes from $92,968 in Virginia Beach to $76,320 in Garland, down $16,648 (18%).
The crime index goes from 62 in Virginia Beach to 87 in Garland, up 25 points (40%).
The move
Garland and Virginia Beach are 1,200 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,641 a month in Garland to $1,714 a month in Virginia Beach, up $73 a month (4%).
Median household income goes from $76,320 in Garland to $92,968 in Virginia Beach, up $16,648 (22%).
The crime index goes from 87 in Garland to 62 in Virginia Beach, down 25 points (29%).
Virginia Beach, VA
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 Virginia Beach and Garland? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
4% cheaper
Garland rent is 4% cheaper than Virginia Beach
Virginia Beach
$1,714/mo
Garland
Winner$1,641/mo
Typical rent runs $1,641 a month in Garland versus $1,714 in Virginia Beach, so Garland is 4% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $73, or $876 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
22% higher
Virginia Beach's median income is 22% higher than Garland
Virginia Beach
Winner$92,968
Garland
$76,320
Median household income is $92,968 in Virginia Beach versus $76,320 in Garland, so typical pay runs 22% higher in Virginia Beach (about $16,648 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, Virginia Beach 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
29% lower crime
Virginia Beach's crime index is 29% lower than Garland
Virginia Beach
Winner62 (100 = avg)
Garland
87 (100 = avg)
Virginia Beach's crime index is 62 versus 87 in Garland (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 29% lower in Virginia Beach. 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, Virginia Beach is the easier city. Garland can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
20% more comfortable
Garland weather is 20% more comfortable than Virginia Beach
Virginia Beach
59°F avg · 63°F highs · comfort 83/100
Garland
Winner66°F avg · 73°F highs · comfort 100/100
Virginia Beach averages about 59°F (63°F highs); Garland averages about 66°F (73°F highs). Virginia Beach averages around 59°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 20% 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 Virginia Beach 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
Virginia Beach is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 22% higher here ($92,968). Start with Virginia Beach if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Virginia Beach is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 29% lower than Garland (62 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.
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 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.
Pick Garland if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (66°F) beat Virginia Beach on this page's weather index by 20%. Virginia Beach may pay more or cost less, but Garland is the city where the forecast fights you less.
Bottom line
Garland carries the heavier crime signal on this page (64/100 safety vs 75/100 in Virginia Beach). That 11-point spread matters more than the $73 rent gap when you are choosing where to walk after dark.
Garland rent at $1,641/month is still below Virginia Beach's $1,714, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Weather averages land near 59°F in Virginia Beach and 66°F in Garland.
Virginia Beach clears the bar on safety in this dataset. Garland deserves a serious look only when you already know the Garland 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 Virginia Beach and Garland, plus other cities in VA and TX.
