# Living in Garland, TX: Realust Score 71

> Source: Realust (realust.com), data as of October 2026. Cite: https://realust.com/city/garland/

URL: https://realust.com/city/garland/
County: Dallas
Realust Score: 71/100 (B-, Above Average), tied for #66 of 84. Base 71 + price-tier bonus 0.
Category scores: Prosperity 63, Schools 78, Safety 64, Lifestyle 81, Market 74, Affordability 83, Commute 66, Growth 67
Median home price: $283K
Population: 246,844
Market momentum: Growing (home prices -3.3% over 1 year, +12.5% over 5 years)

Garland, TX sits just northeast of Dallas and offers a practical “close-to-everything” lifestyle without the constant big-city pace. It’s a diverse, largely residential community with a mix of established neighborhoods, newer subdivisions, and growing apartment options—appealing to both first-time buyers and renters who want space, yards, and everyday convenience. Many residents commute across the Metroplex, and Garland’s DART Blue Line stations plus major corridors like I-635 and US-75 make it easier to access jobs, airports, and entertainment while still coming home to a quieter feel.
Day-to-day, Garland leans into parks, recreation, and family-friendly amenities: trails, sports fields, and easy getaways to nearby lakes pair well with shopping and dining hubs like Firewheel and a steadily evolving Downtown square. The city’s “value + access” reputation is a big draw, and recent infill and redevelopment are adding more modern housing and local business energy. For comparison shoppers, Garland often competes well on overall cost, commute flexibility, and variety of neighborhoods—especially if you want Dallas proximity but prefer a more laid-back, community-oriented base.

Strengths:
- Affordable housing compared to many other Dallas-area suburbs
- Convenient location with quick access to Dallas via highways and DART Rail
- Plenty of parks & outdoor space, plus close proximity to Lake Ray Hubbard
- Diverse community with a wide range of restaurants, cultures, and local events
- Established neighborhoods with mature trees and larger lots than newer suburbs

Trade-offs:
- Traffic congestion during peak commute hours, especially near major highways
- School quality varies by neighborhood, so zoning matters
- Limited nightlife compared to Dallas or trendier suburbs
- Older infrastructure in some areas, with aging homes and roads
- Hot summers with typical North Texas heat and humidity

Data:
- Demographics / Population: Total Population 246,844; People per sq mile 4,342; 5-Year Growth +3.5%
- Demographics / Mobility & Migration: Moved Last Year 8.5%; Same Home 1+ Year 91.5%; From Out of State 1.0%; From Different County 1.8%
- Demographics / Age Distribution: Under 18 25.5%; 25-34 14.7%; 35-44 12.8%; 65+ 12.6%; Median Age 35.0 years
- Demographics / Households: Avg Household Size 3.0; Family Households 75.0%; Homeownership Rate 61.6%; With Kids 36.5%; Married 51.9%; Single Parent 7.9%; Living Alone 19.2%; Seniors Alone 7.3%
- Demographics / Education Level: High School+ 78.9%; Bachelor's+ 25.4%; Graduate Degree 8.4%
- Demographics / Connectivity & Remote Work: Broadband Access 94.9%; Have Computer 98.4%; Work From Home 11.6%
- Real Estate / Home Prices: Per Sq Ft $182; Starter Home $265,000; Median Price $283,276; Premium Home $487,990
- Real Estate / Home Price Trends: 1-Year Change -3.3%; 5-Year Change +12.5%
- Real Estate / Rent Trends: 1-Year Change +1.9%; 5-Year Change +29.3%
- Real Estate / Market Health: Active Listings 596; Median Days on Market 68; Under Contract 23.5%; Price Reduced 11%; Sale-to-List Ratio 96.8%
- Real Estate / Market Insights: Cheaper to Buy $231/mo; Balanced 3.3 mo; Rental Yield 7.6%; Income to Buy 3.7x; vs Region Avg -19%
- Real Estate / Fit Scores: Remote Work Fit 75; Family Fit 53; Investment 98
- Real Estate / Typical Home: Sq Ft 1,924; Beds 3.5; Baths 2.4; Lot Sq Ft 16,972; Year Built 1981; Garage 1.9-car
- Real Estate / Property Mix: Single Family 90%; Townhome 0%; Condo 3%
- Real Estate / Common Features: Pool 8.5%; Garage 79.5%; Single Story 68%; Fireplace 66.5%; Central Air 63%; Waterfront 0.5%
- Real Estate / Costs & Ownership: Est. Monthly Payment $1,569; Median Rent $1,800; Avg HOA Fee $103/mo; Have HOA 27.5%
- Real Estate / Investment Indicators: Rental Vacancy 1%; New Construction 9%; Per Bedroom $93,805
- Lifestyle / Lifestyle Scores: Area Feel Dense Suburban; Family Friendly 6.7; Outdoor Activities 6; Nightlife 6.7; Health & Fitness 5.3; Diversity 8.7; Weather 6.7
- Lifestyle / Nearby Amenities (within 5 miles): Restaurants 60+; Parks 60+; Gyms 60+; Grocery 39; Coffee 60+; Bars 60+; Theaters 6; Daycares 60+; Hospitals 47; Pharmacies 60+; Dentists 60+; Libraries 14; Dog Parks 60+; Museums 4
- Lifestyle / Getting Around: Walk Score 39; Bike Score 41; Transit Score 31
- Lifestyle / Seasonal Temperatures (high / low): January 56° / 39°; April 74° / 55°; July 94° / 77°; October 77° / 58°
- Lifestyle / Annual Conditions: Sunny Days/Year 218; Rainy Days/Year 147; Annual Rainfall 53.3"
- Crime & Safety / Safety Overview: Safety Grade C+; Violent crime (per 1,000) 1.94; Property crime (per 1,000) 17.02
- Crime & Safety / Violent Crime (per 100,000): Assault 140.91; Robbery 60.51; Murder 2.43; Rape 26.4
- Crime & Safety / Property Crime (per 100,000): Burglary 303.34; Theft 1283.63; Vehicle Theft 401.21
- Job Market / Income: Median Household $76,320; Average Household $95,348; Per Capita $31,917
- Job Market / Employment: Unemployment Rate 4.8%; Job Growth (1 yr) +0.8%; Poverty Rate 13.0%
- Job Market / Income Distribution: $150k+ 16.5%; $100k-$150k 19.5%; $75k-$100k 15.2%; $50k-$75k 19.1%; $25k-$50k 18.8%; Under $25k 11.0%
- Job Market / Industries & Employers: Major Industries Manufacturing, Logistics, Healthcare, Retail; Top Employers Garland ISD, Baylor Scott & White, Kraft Foods, Raytheon, L3Harris
- Education / School District: Primary district Garland ISD; District Grade B+; State Ranking Top 49%
- Education / Schools: Elementary 44; Middle 12; High School 10
- Education / Elementary Schools: Walnut Glen Acad For Excel A (98); Kimberlin Acad For Excel A (95)
- Education / Middle Schools: Classical Center At Brandenburg Middle A (91); Webb Middle B (85)
- Education / High Schools: N Garland High School A (94); Lakeview Centennial High School A (94)
- Education / Academic Info: Student-Teacher Ratio 15:1
- Education / Graduation Rates (Class of 2024): Graduation Rate 94.3%; Dropout Rate 3.8%
- Education / College Readiness (Class of 2023): Took SAT/ACT 97%; College Ready 11.7%; TSI Ready 19.5%
- Transportation / Mobility Scores: Walk Score 39; Bike Score 41; Transit Score 31
- Transportation / Commute: Avg Minutes 30; Drive Alone 73.3%; Carpool 11.3%; Work from Home 11.6%
- Transportation / Distance To: Downtown Dallas 19.5 mi; DFW Airport 27.2 mi; Love Field 19.7 mi
- Transportation / EV Charging: Public Stations 17; DC Fast Ports 8; Level 2 Ports 37
- Transportation / Major Highway Access: Highways I-30, I-635, President George Bush Turnpike
- Cost of Living / Cost Index (100 = National Average): Overall 100; Housing 85; Utilities 100; Groceries 97; Transportation 98; Healthcare 97
- Cost of Living / Monthly Utilities: Electric $140; Water $52; Gas $48; Internet $68
- Cost of Living / Everyday Costs: Monthly Groceries (Family of 4) $765; Gas Price (per gallon) $2.75
- Cost of Living / Taxes: Sales Tax Rate 8.3%; Property Tax Rate 2.4%

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