City comparison
No. Garland's crime index is 87 versus 223 in Washington, and its violent crime index is 62 versus 243, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Garland is cheaper. Median rent is $1,641 a month versus $1,954 in Washington.
Safety is where Washington and Garland split most clearly. Garland scores 136 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,954 in Washington and $1,641 in Garland.
Garland is not a close call here. It leads on cost of living, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Washington 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. Garland at $1,641 average has pockets that run $1,441 and others at $2,041: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Washington and Garland are 1,169 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,954 a month in Washington to $1,641 a month in Garland, down $313 a month (16%).
Median household income goes from $109,870 in Washington to $76,320 in Garland, down $33,550 (31%).
The crime index goes from 223 in Washington to 87 in Garland, down 136 points (61%).
The move
Garland and Washington are 1,169 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,641 a month in Garland to $1,954 a month in Washington, up $313 a month (19%).
Median household income goes from $76,320 in Garland to $109,870 in Washington, up $33,550 (44%).
The crime index goes from 87 in Garland to 223 in Washington, up 136 points (156%).
Washington, DC
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 Washington and Garland? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
16% cheaper
Garland rent is 16% cheaper than Washington
Washington
$1,954/mo
Garland
Winner$1,641/mo
Typical rent runs $1,641 a month in Garland versus $1,954 in Washington, so Garland is 16% cheaper. A meaningful but not dramatic gap. Factor it into your budget alongside salary differences between the two markets. Over a year the spread is about $3,756, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Garland still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Washington.
Planning to buy in Garland? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
44% higher
Washington's median income is 44% higher than Garland
Washington
Winner$109,870
Garland
$76,320
Median household income is $109,870 in Washington versus $76,320 in Garland, so typical pay runs 44% higher in Washington (about $33,550 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, Washington 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
61% lower crime
Garland's crime index is 61% lower than Washington
Washington
223 (100 = avg)
Garland
Winner87 (100 = avg)
Garland's crime index is 87 versus 223 in Washington (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. Washington can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
39% more comfortable
Garland weather is 39% more comfortable than Washington
Washington
55°F avg · 62°F highs · comfort 72/100
Garland
Winner66°F avg · 73°F highs · comfort 100/100
Washington averages about 55°F (62°F highs); Garland averages about 66°F (73°F highs). Washington averages around 55°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 39% 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 Washington 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
Washington is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 44% higher here ($109,870). Start with Washington if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
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 16% 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 Washington on this page's weather index by 39%. Washington may pay more or cost less, but Garland is the city where the forecast fights you less.
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 Washington (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 36/100 in Washington). Typical rent is $1,641 in Garland and $1,954 in Washington; do not assume the cheaper lease buys the calmer blocks.
Garland rent at $1,641/month is still below Washington's $1,954, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Weather averages land near 55°F in Washington and 66°F in Garland.
Garland is ahead on safety (64/100 vs 36/100); Washington is still viable when you have a vetted ZIP there and $1,954/month rent plus $109,870 income fit your budget better than the safety margin.
Common questions
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