Quick Answer: Moving to Garland, TX puts you in a diverse Dallas County suburb of roughly 246,000 people, about 20 minutes northeast of downtown Dallas. Expect below-average housing costs, two DART Blue Line rail stations, and neighborhoods ranging from the historic square in Downtown Garland to the master-planned Firewheel area near Lake Ray Hubbard.
Planning your move? Hickory Apartments sits in the Garland area northeast of Dallas, close to many of the spots below. Moving to Garland, TX means weighing county lines, population, neighborhoods, and cost before you sign a lease, and this guide covers each one.
What is it like moving to Garland, TX?
Moving to Garland, TX means trading big-city prices for a settled suburb without losing access to Dallas jobs and culture. Garland sits inside the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex, serving the northeast corner of Dallas County, and it blends older tree-lined blocks with newer construction. It's affordable and easy to commute from, and more diverse than most Texas suburbs its size.
People move here for a few practical reasons. Housing runs cheaper than Dallas or Plano. The location is central to North Texas. And the community is genuinely mixed, with about a third of residents born outside the United States. Garland also runs on a deep manufacturing base of more than 300 companies, so it's more than a bedroom suburb.
Is Garland in Dallas County, and how big is it?
Yes. Garland sits mostly in Dallas County, with small slices reaching into Collin County and Rockwall County along its edges. One of the first questions people ask before moving to Garland is which county it falls in, and the answer affects schools and taxes, because a home's exact address decides its district and rates.
Property tax rates here generally run about 2.0% to 2.5% of a home's value, though the 2025 statewide homestead exemption of $140,000 trims the bill for owner-occupants. Garland Independent School District covers most of the city, so families should map both the tax rate and the school zone for any address they weigh.
Garland, Texas population at a glance
The 2020 Census counted 246,018 residents, which makes Garland the twelfth or thirteenth largest city in Texas depending on the year's estimate. Recent Census estimates hover near that mark, in the 243,000 to 250,000 range, so growth here is steady rather than explosive. That's a bigger population than Frisco or McKinney.
Garland didn't begin as one town. It grew out of two rival settlements, Duck Creek and Embree, that merged in 1891 after a long fight over the railroad and the post office. Pull the current numbers straight from U.S. Census Bureau data for Garland before you commit to a specific address.
Which Garland neighborhoods should newcomers consider?
A big part of moving to Garland is picking the right side of town, because the areas vary a lot in budget and commute. The northeast side around Firewheel skews newer and pricier. Downtown offers walkable history next to a train station. The south side, closer to Lake Ray Hubbard, tends to be the most affordable.
| Area | Vibe | Typical housing |
|---|---|---|
| Downtown | Historic, walkable, transit-rich | Older homes, lofts, apartments |
| Northeast Garland and Firewheel | Newer, retail-heavy, family | Larger single-family homes, townhomes |
| North Garland Avenue corridor | Established, central, commercial | Mid-century homes, apartments |
| South Garland | Affordable, lakeside access | Older homes, townhome communities |
Downtown Garland
Downtown Garland is the walkable heart of the city, built around a historic square that joined the National Register of Historic Places in 2017. The Downtown Garland Station puts you on the DART Blue Line, so you can reach downtown Dallas or Plano without a car. Over the past few years, new restaurants, breweries, and the Granville Arts Center have given the square a small but real arts scene. Housing leans older here, with lofts and apartments mixed among early-1900s homes. Renters who want to stay close to this area can browse available floor plans at a nearby community.
Northeast Garland and the Firewheel area
Northeast Garland holds most of the newer money and development. The anchor is Firewheel, an upscale master-planned community that took shape in the late 1990s around Firewheel Golf Park. Firewheel Parkway runs straight to Firewheel Town Center, a 100-plus-store open-air mall with a large AMC IMAX theater and dozens of restaurants. Take Firewheel Estates, Garland, TX: this subdivision offers larger homes, often 3,000 square feet or more, on generous lots in the 75040 and 75044 zip codes. If you'd rather rent than buy in this part of town, you can take a photo tour of a nearby community. One quirk to know: part of Firewheel crosses into Collin County, so those blocks feed into Plano ISD instead of Garland ISD. That can swing school choice and resale, so confirm the exact address.
The North Garland Avenue corridor
North Garland Avenue is one of the city's main north-south arteries, running from the downtown square up through central and northern neighborhoods. It's a practical, established stretch lined with shops, grocery stores, restaurants, and older residential streets branching off both sides. Homes along this corridor tend to be mid-century single-story builds from the 1960s through the 1980s, with apartments and rentals filling the gaps. You won't find master-planned polish here, but you get a central location, quick access to US-75 and I-635, and prices below the Firewheel side of the city.
South Garland, TX and Lake Ray Hubbard
South Garland, TX is usually the most budget-friendly part of the city, and it sits closest to Lake Ray Hubbard for fishing, boating, and lakeside parks. The area around Duck Creek holds a mix of older single-family homes and established townhome communities. Rosegate Townhomes in Garland, for example, is a small 1980s community off Rosehill Road in the 75043 zip, with three-bedroom units near the lake and Firewheel shopping. Prefer to see a place before committing? You can check the map and directions to see how close a nearby community sits. Commuters here lean on I-30 and the President George Bush Turnpike to reach Dallas or Mesquite.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How far is Garland, TX from downtown Dallas?
Garland sits about 13 to 19 miles northeast of downtown Dallas, roughly a 20 to 30 minute drive depending on traffic. Major routes include I-635, I-30, US-75, and the President George Bush Turnpike.
2. Does Garland have public transit to Dallas?
Yes. Garland has two DART Blue Line rail stations, including the Downtown Garland Station, connecting riders to downtown Dallas and north to Plano. Daily rail fares start around five to six dollars, with weekly and monthly passes available. DART buses also cover suburban routes, though most residents still drive day to day.
3. How much does it cost to live in Garland compared to Dallas?
Garland runs close to the national average overall and cheaper than Dallas on housing. Recent figures show:
- Median home sale price around $281,000 to $302,000, well under Dallas proper.
- Average apartment rent near $1,525 a month, varying by unit type and area.
- A cost-of-living index roughly at or just above the U.S. average.
Confirm current market numbers before you sign, since prices shift month to month.
4. Is Firewheel Estates in Garland, TX a good area to live?
Firewheel Estates is one of Garland's more established upscale pockets, known for larger homes on bigger lots in the 75040 and 75044 zip codes. It sits near Firewheel Town Center, solid golf, and easy turnpike access. Homes here often list well above the citywide median, so plan your budget accordingly.
5. What is Garland, TX known for?
Garland is known for Firewheel Town Center, a big open-air mall, plus a deep manufacturing base of 300-plus companies and one of the most diverse populations in Texas. Lake Ray Hubbard draws boaters and anglers, and the historic downtown square anchors a small arts and dining scene.
Conclusion
Moving to Garland, TX gives you a rare combination in North Texas: real affordability paired with a central location, wrapped around neighborhoods that each keep their own personality. Whether you're drawn to the historic square downtown, the newer homes around Firewheel, or the quieter, lake-adjacent south side, there's a fit for most budgets and commutes. Before you settle on an address, check school district lines, current prices, and permit rules through the City of Garland, then drive the neighborhoods at rush hour. Garland rewards buyers and renters who do their homework.
