City comparison
No. Garland's crime index is 87 versus 326 in Wichita, and its violent crime index is 62 versus 353, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Wichita is cheaper. Median rent is $975 a month versus $1,641 in Garland.
Safety is where Wichita and Garland split most clearly. Garland scores 239 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $975 in Wichita and $1,641 in Garland.
Garland is not a close call here. It leads on the job market, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Wichita 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. Wichita at $975 average has pockets that run $775 and others at $1,375: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Wichita and Garland are 333 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $975 a month in Wichita to $1,641 a month in Garland, up $666 a month (68%).
Median household income goes from $64,620 in Wichita to $76,320 in Garland, up $11,700 (18%).
The crime index goes from 326 in Wichita to 87 in Garland, down 239 points (73%).
The move
Garland and Wichita are 333 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,641 a month in Garland to $975 a month in Wichita, down $666 a month (41%).
Median household income goes from $76,320 in Garland to $64,620 in Wichita, down $11,700 (15%).
The crime index goes from 87 in Garland to 326 in Wichita, up 239 points (275%).
Wichita, KS
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 Wichita and Garland? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
41% cheaper
Wichita rent is 41% cheaper than Garland
Wichita
Winner$975/mo
Garland
$1,641/mo
Typical rent runs $975 a month in Wichita versus $1,641 in Garland, so Wichita is 41% cheaper. That's roughly $666/month back in your pocket ($7,992/year). Over five years that's $39,960 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, Wichita 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
18% higher
Garland's median income is 18% higher than Wichita
Wichita
$64,620
Garland
Winner$76,320
Median household income is $76,320 in Garland versus $64,620 in Wichita, so typical pay runs 18% higher in Garland (about $11,700 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. Wichita can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
73% lower crime
Garland's crime index is 73% lower than Wichita
Wichita
326 (100 = avg)
Garland
Winner87 (100 = avg)
Garland's crime index is 87 versus 326 in Wichita (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 73% 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. Wichita can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
12% more comfortable
Garland weather is 12% more comfortable than Wichita
Wichita
61°F avg · 69°F highs · comfort 89/100
Garland
Winner66°F avg · 73°F highs · comfort 100/100
Wichita averages about 61°F (69°F highs); Garland averages about 66°F (73°F highs). Wichita averages around 61°F. Garland sits near 66°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Garland scores 12% 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 Wichita 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 Wichita
Wichita is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 41% cheaper here at about $975 a month. Choose Wichita 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 18% 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 73% lower than Wichita (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 24/100 in Wichita). Typical rent is $1,641 in Garland and $975 in Wichita; do not assume the cheaper lease buys the calmer blocks.
Garland still pays more locally ($76,320 median income vs $64,620), which can offset the lease if your field pays Garland rates.
Median income is $76,320 in Garland versus $64,620 in Wichita.
Between Wichita and Garland, Garland is ahead on safety — 64/100 safety versus 24/100. Lean Wichita instead when you already know the Wichita block you would live on and the safety gap is acceptable.
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