Quick Answer: Census data supports calling Garland, TX: one of DFW's most diverse cities for renters. No single racial or ethnic group holds a majority, and 31.7% of residents were born outside the U.S. Just over half speak a language other than English at home, well above the statewide share of 35.1%.
Garland sits just northeast of Dallas, and its roughly 250,000 residents come from a wider mix of backgrounds than most of Texas. You'll notice it in the grocery stores and on the festival calendar. Crestridge Apartments, serving renters in west-central Garland from West Walnut Street, is a short trip from one of North Texas's best-known Vietnamese food corridors.
What Makes Garland So Diverse?
Federal data makes the case clearly. The Census Bureau's 2020-2024 American Community Survey found that 31.7% of Garland residents were born in another country, compared with 17.6% across Texas. Among residents age 5 and older, 53.1% speak a language other than English at home, versus 35.1% statewide.
No single group dominates. July 2025 estimates put Hispanic residents at 45.7% of the city, non-Hispanic white residents at 24.2%, Black residents at 15.1% and Asian residents at 11.4%. Hispanic residents can be of any race, so those shares overlap. Every figure here is listed on the U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts page for Garland.
The city keeps growing, too. Garland counted 226,876 residents in the 2010 census and 246,018 in 2020, and the Bureau's July 2025 estimate put the population at 249,625. That's a gain of more than 22,000 people in 15 years.
Some of that mix has deep roots. Reporting by The Dallas Morning News traces the growth of Garland's Vietnamese community to the years after the Refugee Act of 1980, when the city's cost of living and job options drew refugee families. Four decades later, Vietnamese restaurants and markets are part of everyday life on the west side of town.
Is Garland One of the Best Neighborhoods in DFW for Renters?
That depends on what you value. Niche's 2026 rankings place Garland 5th of 125 Dallas-Fort Worth suburbs for diversity and 2nd of 23 suburbs in Dallas County. The same site ranks it 171st of 288 DFW places for overall livability, so diversity is where Garland stands out most.
Statewide, Niche puts Garland 13th of 416 Texas suburbs on the same diversity list. For renters comparing DFW apartments, though, census numbers tell you more than any ranking. Here's how Garland measures up against Texas as a whole.
| Census Measure | Garland | Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Hispanic or Latino residents | 45.7% | 40.9% |
| White, not Hispanic | 24.2% | 37.3% |
| Black residents | 15.1% | 13.4% |
| Asian residents | 11.4% | 6.7% |
| Born outside the U.S. | 31.7% | 17.6% |
| Language other than English at home | 53.1% | 35.1% |
| People per household | 3.00 | 2.69 |
| Average commute (minutes) | 29.7 | 26.7 |
| Median gross rent (monthly) | $1,641 | $1,403 |
Race and ethnicity rows are July 2025 estimates. All other rows come from 2020-2024 survey data.
Apartments in Garland TX: Rent and Commute Tradeoffs
Garland's median gross rent of $1,641 runs higher than the statewide $1,403. Keep two things in mind, though. That number includes utilities, and it pools survey responses gathered from 2020 through 2024, so it isn't a live asking price. Anyone shopping Dallas Fort Worth rentals should treat it as a baseline, then compare current Crestridge floor plans against real listings.
Commutes are the other tradeoff. Garland workers average 29.7 minutes each way, three minutes longer than the Texas figure. If your job sits near a Blue Line station, riding the train is one way to skip that drive. Households also run larger here, averaging 3.00 people compared with 2.69 statewide, which is worth factoring in when you decide how much space you need.
Downtown Garland Texas: Where the Mix Shows Up
Downtown Garland Square is the easiest place to see the city's cultural range in person. The square hosts heritage celebrations through the year, and the city's arts venues nearby draw audiences from across North Texas. It's also two blocks south of Downtown Garland Station on the DART Blue Line, so you can arrive by train.
Garland Downtown Arts and Festivals
The Plaza Theatre at 521 West State Street seats 350 right on the square. Nearby, the Granville Arts Center sits at Fifth and Austin streets beside the rail station. The city reports average attendance above 200,000 patrons a year for its arts venues, which date back to 1982.
Festivals fill in the rest of the calendar. Garland's Juneteenth celebration takes place on Downtown Garland Square each June. The 2026 Día de los Muertos event is scheduled for Saturday, October 24, from 2 to 8 p.m. at The Atrium, 300 N. Fifth Street, and across downtown, with a juried art exhibit inside the Granville Arts Center. Visit Garland, the city's visitors bureau, posts the event details in both English and Spanish. The bureau also promotes an Asian American Heritage Festival on the square, complete with lion dances and a parade.
Jupiter Road and Walnut Street
You don't have to go downtown to see it, either. The intersection of Jupiter Road and Walnut Street, a short trip down West Walnut from Crestridge, is known for its Vietnamese restaurants and markets. Back in 2018, the Dallas Observer called this corner the center of Vietnamese food in North Texas. Hiep Thai Food Store at 3347 W. Walnut Street stocks produce and pantry staples tied to Asian, Filipino, African and Mexican cooking. When The Dallas Morning News covered Visit Garland's Pho Real Trail in 2023, it listed 19 Vietnamese restaurants grouped in three clusters within a 3-mile radius.
For a Crestridge resident, that makes a weeknight grocery run and a bowl of pho an easy pairing.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Is Garland part of Dallas?
No. Garland is a separate city with its own city government, located northeast of Dallas. Most of Garland lies in Dallas County, and parts of the city extend into Collin and Rockwall counties. The Census Bureau estimated its population at 249,625 as of July 1, 2025.
2. What should I know before moving to Garland TX?
A few facts help new residents settle in:
- Just over half of residents speak a language other than English at home.
- Garland ISD uses a Choice of School model, so compare campuses before you sign a lease.
- DART Blue Line stops in the city include Forest/Jupiter and Downtown Garland.
- The average one-way commute is about 30 minutes.
3. Does Garland TX have public transit?
Yes. Garland is one of the northeast Dallas Texas suburbs served by DART's Blue Line. It stops at Forest/Jupiter Station, less than a mile from Crestridge, and at Downtown Garland Station at Fifth and Walnut. The line continues southwest through downtown Dallas, and the downtown Garland stop doubles as a bus transfer hub.
4. What is the median rent in Garland TX?
The Census Bureau's 2020-2024 estimate puts Garland's median gross rent at $1,641 a month, with utilities included. It's a multi-year survey figure, so current asking rents at individual communities may be higher or lower. For an accurate number, check live availability and ask which utilities your lease covers.
5. What cultural events happen in downtown Garland?
Downtown Garland Square hosts the city's annual Juneteenth celebration in June and a Día de los Muertos event in the fall, set for October 24 in 2026. The Plaza Theatre and Granville Arts Center stage performances year-round, and the city provides parking in nearby lots plus two garages.
Renting in Garland's Mix
Garland, TX: one of DFW's most diverse cities for renters. The label holds up when 31.7% of residents were born abroad and the same square hosts both Juneteenth and Día de los Muertos. For renters, that means more choice in where you shop and how you spend a Saturday.
Crestridge puts you on West Walnut Street in west-central Garland, a short trip from the Jupiter Road restaurants and a short drive from downtown. Take the Crestridge photo tour to get a feel for the community, and start your rental application online when you're ready. Look at the numbers first, then see the neighborhood in person.
