Balch Springs and Garland receive effectively the same standardized Area Score. Which fits you better depends on which dimensions you weight — the differences below are where they actually diverge.
Signals
Balch Springs
Garland
Opportunity
46 · Bottom 28%
vs60 · Top 42%
Growth
64 · Top 26%
vs45 · Bottom 40%
Climate
68 · Bottom 41%
vs63 · Bottom 29%
Physical resilience
52 · Bottom 45%
vs52 · Bottom 45%
Housing affordability
81 · Top 50%
vs76 · Bottom 43%
Schools
26 · Bottom 18%
vs37 · Bottom 32%
Access
95 · Top 34%
vs97 · Top 22%
Economic stability
64 · Top 41%
vs62 · Top 47%
Measured values
| Metric | Balch Springs | Garland | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 27,255 | 246,844 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $66,942 | $76,320 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $25,186 | $31,917 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 3,002/sq mi | 4,341/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $224,400 | $270,800 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,378 | $1,641 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 64.7% | 61.6% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 4.9% | 4.5% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -0.4% | -0.4% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 9.1% | 25.4% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 7.1% | 13.0% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 165 | 389 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 6.1 | 1.6 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 20.4% | -29.1% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 96°F | 97°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 38°F | 38°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 37.7" | 38.3" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 16 mi | 14 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 37.3 min | 32.3 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 32.2 | 35.0 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 6 | 61 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 15.08 | 15.36 | 2024-25 school year |
| Math proficiency | 27.3% | 28.4% | 2019-20 school year |
| Reading proficiency | 30.9% | 37.9% | 2019-20 school year |
| Free or reduced-price lunch eligibility | 90.8% | 77.0% | 2024-25 school year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
Balch Springs
Elevated or high exposure: hail, tornado.
Garland
Elevated or high exposure: hail, tornado.
Your best match
Weight what matters to you. Your preferences stay in this browser and never change either Area Score.
Balch Springs
62
Your Score
57
Area Score
Garland
62
Your Score
58
Area Score
Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: Balch Springs, TX · Garland, TX · How this is calculated: methodology