Garland, Texas

We don’t mean to speak for how anyone living in Garland feels about the city, but the statistics indicate that Garland offers opportunities people don't find elsewhere.

1. Millennials &/or first-time home buyers do very well in Garland. It is rated #1 in Texas and #8 in the entire country for first-time home buyers. This is in part about home prices being reasonable and in part about relatively high wages in the city. https://www.garlandtx.gov/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=1955

2. Garland is incredibly diverse in population and opportunity. Garland is a majority-minority city that is rated one of the most diverse suburbs in the U.S. It boasts a high percentage of home ownership and income levels across all races/ethnicities.

A good part of this opportunity comes from a large manufacturing base that creates a larger middle-class in Garland than in other cities whose economies are more service-based.
Texas is a booming state and Garland feels like some of the best of what Texas has to offer. For those considering leaving a state like California that thinks Texas is going to be one-dimensional, Garland would like to have a word with you.

Final note: lots of people move to suburban cities for a pure experience of big homes, big yards, and peace and quiet. And Garland has plenty of neighborhoods with that kind of vibe. But Garland is also a legit city all on its own with; manufacturing, industrial areas, and a mix of safe and not-so-safe neighborhoods. If you’re looking for pure quiet throughout your suburban city you won’t like the more city-like mix of Garland.

Garland's lifestyle is an interesting mix. There are quiet neighborhoods with parks for kiddos and doggos, trails for biking and walking, a growing downtown commercial district with bars and restaurants for going out for young professionals and family date-nighters, and big plans for expansion of the central downtown and arts district area.

Perhaps most importantly for those looking for an active lifestyle, Garland borders Dallas. For many Garland residents, particularly those on the Southwest side, Dallas lifestyle opportunities are just as close as those in Garland. As with many dense suburban cities that have a robust commercial district, it is often the case that people do “low-key” nights or days out in downtown Garland but then head into Dallas for bigger nights out or more cultural adventures.

It isn’t necessary, though, as the Granville Arts Center in Garland is a beautiful facility with three theaters for live performances, including appearances by the Dallas Ballet, the local Symphony, concerts, movies, theater productions, and more. While Dallas is still the major draw for culture, Garland holds its own. Check out the calendar of events for all that happens here.

Garland has an extremely diverse economy with, as has been noted, a large manufacturing base. The company base includes the categories of: electronics, steel fabrication, oil feed equipment manufacturing, hat production (yes, hats), dairy and food processing, and plenty of education and health employers. While there are certainly plenty of people in Garland that commute to Dallas, unlike other suburbs, it has a big middle class due to high-wage manufacturing and production jobs available in the city limits.

If you end up commuting to Dallas it can be a bit painful, especially if you’re used to smaller town traffic, but most people are just 20-30 minutes away from work so overall pretty convenient.