Sample data. These scores are illustrative placeholders, not real measurements — live scores arrive when the data pipeline runs.
Where Garland lands on the scale
Every city is graded on the same 0–100 Fun Score, split into five bands from quiet to exceptional — here is where Garland sits.
How the Fun Score adds up
The Fun Score is one number with two halves — 16 things that make Garland fun, minus 7 that wear it down. Here is the arithmetic.
16 things that lift the score, blended onto 0–100
7 things that wear it down, blended onto 0–100
- Fun factors lift it
- –
- Drawbacks pull it down
- –
- Raw composite
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- Fun Score placed on the published 0–100 scale
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Only 40% of the drawback total is subtracted — even a great city can carry a few flaws. Every factor below spells its contribution out as an equation — score times weight. Those 23 contributions are the building blocks behind the two totals above (each is rounded for display).
The Fun breakdown
Every factor is scored 0–100 against the other cities in the index.
Garland's strongest factors are Unique Hangouts, Higher Education and Climate. Its heaviest drawbacks are Air Quality, Traffic and Disaster Risk.
On every bar, the marker shows the typical city — the median score across the whole index.
What lifts the score
- Eats –
Restaurants, food halls and the depth of the dining scene.
Measured from OpenStreetMap restaurant counts, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality.
- Drinks –
Bars, breweries, cocktail rooms and the nightlife spread.
Measured from OpenStreetMap bars, pubs, nightclubs and craft breweries/distilleries, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality.
- Coffee –
Cafés and the strength of the third-place coffee culture.
Measured from OpenStreetMap café counts, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality.
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Music venues and how often live shows actually happen.
Measured from Ticketmaster and SeatGeek show listings, plus OpenStreetMap music venues.
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Notable people the city is known for, plus headliner acts that tour through.
Measured from SeatGeek headliner popularity and Wikidata notable residents (rank-blended).
- Outdoors –
Parks, beaches and easy access to nature.
Measured from OpenStreetMap parks, nature reserves, playgrounds and beaches, plus National Park Service units and Recreation.gov federal facilities.
- Culture –
Museums, theatres, galleries and arts institutions.
Measured from OpenStreetMap museums, galleries and theatres plus geo-tagged Wikipedia landmarks, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality.
- Events –
Festivals, fairs and a packed year-round events calendar.
Measured from Ticketmaster and SeatGeek festivals, fairs and ticketed events.
- Sports –
Pro and college teams and the game-day energy around them.
Measured from Ticketmaster and SeatGeek pro and college games, plus OpenStreetMap stadiums, sports centres and fitness centres.
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Escape rooms, arcades, trampoline parks and karaoke spots.
Measured from OpenStreetMap escape rooms, arcades, trampoline parks and karaoke venues, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality.
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How much the city is talked about and searched for — news and search attention.
Measured from GDELT news tone and Google Trends search interest (each percentile-ranked, then averaged).
- Climate –
How often the weather is good enough to get outside.
Measured from NOAA climate normals — counts of comfortable days.
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How well a person without a car can move around the city.
Measured from GTFS schedules via Transit.land, the Federal Transit Administration National Transit Database and US Census ACS B08301 commuter mode share.
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Density of fun within walking distance — sidewalks, intersections, mixed-use blocks.
Measured from EPA National Walkability Index (block-group resolution, population-weighted to the city).
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Density of college and university students — the engine behind a college town.
Measured from NCES Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) full-time-equivalent enrollment and US Census ACS age cohort data.
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Protected bike lanes and a working public bikeshare system.
Measured from OpenStreetMap protected cycleway segments and the MobilityData GBFS bikeshare-feed catalog.
What weighs it down
- Crime –
Reported violent and property crime rates.
Measured from FBI Crime Data Explorer and city open-data crime portals.
- Traffic –
Congestion and the time lost to commuting.
Measured from US Census commute-time data (ACS).
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Recent particulate matter and ozone levels — a trailing-week air-quality average.
Measured from EPA AirNow and OpenAQ pollution readings (seven-day trailing average).
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Exposure to natural hazards and severe events.
Measured from FEMA National Risk Index.
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Punishing heat, cold and storm extremes.
Measured from NOAA Storm Events and climate-extremes data.
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Cost of living and housing pressure on residents.
Measured from Bureau of Labor Statistics unemployment, HUD Fair Market Rent and US Census median income plus poverty rate.
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What a typical night out actually costs in this metro.
Measured from Bureau of Labor Statistics regional Consumer Price Index — food away from home, recreation services and transportation services.
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Cities like Garland
The Garland read Free
A written read on Garland, grounded in the data
A plain-English analysis of why Garland scores the way it does — its standout strengths, where it falls short, who it suits best, and the cities most like it. Every figure is drawn from the same 23 factors on this page: it narrates the measured data, it never invents a number.
Garland, TX: A Quiet City with a Strong Sense of Unique Hangouts
Garland, TX is a Quiet city, ranking tied for #133 out of 134 cities nationally, and stands out for its Unique Hangouts scene.
Why it scores high
Garland offers some appealing aspects for residents, particularly in its variety of unique entertainment options. The city's strongest factor is its Unique Hangouts scene, scoring 65 out of 100 and ranking tied for #47 nationally out of 134 cities. This indicates a good selection of places like escape rooms, arcades, and karaoke venues, suggesting that residents have access to engaging and distinctive recreational activities.
The city also performs well in Higher Education, with a score of 53 and ranking tied for #63 nationally. This suggests a notable presence of educational institutions, which can contribute to a vibrant community and opportunities for learning and personal growth. Additionally, Garland benefits from a favorable Climate, scoring 50 and ranking tied for #67 nationally. This score reflects a good number of comfortable days throughout the year, making it pleasant for outdoor activities and general well-being.
Furthermore, Garland exhibits a strong commitment to safety, with a Crime score of 82, ranking #25 nationally. This high score indicates a relatively safe environment, which is a significant positive for residents. The cost of going out is also quite reasonable in Garland, with a Going-Out Cost score of 65, ranking tied for #22 nationally. This suggests that entertainment and dining out are more affordable here compared to many other cities.
Where it falls short
While Garland has its strengths, there are areas where it doesn't offer as much. The city's Drinks scene scores a low 2 out of 100, ranking tied for #131 nationally. This suggests a limited selection of bars, pubs, and nightclubs, which might be a drawback for those seeking a lively nightlife. Similarly, the Live Music scene also scores a low 2, ranking tied for #131 nationally, indicating few options for catching live performances.
The availability of Coffee shops is also relatively low, with a score of 4 and a national rank of #129. This might mean fewer choices for those who enjoy frequenting cafes. Additionally, the city's Air Quality scores a low 8, ranking tied for #130 nationally, which could be a concern for residents sensitive to air pollution.
Who it's for
Garland, TX is best suited for individuals and families who prioritize a safe and affordable environment with a good selection of unique, local entertainment options. It's a place for those who enjoy a quieter pace of life, appreciate a comfortable climate, and are looking for a community with accessible higher education opportunities, rather than a bustling nightlife or extensive live music scene.
Cities like it
- Bakersfield, CA: Similar in its overall quiet atmosphere and focus on local amenities.
- Glendale, AZ: Shares a comparable profile in terms of lifestyle and entertainment offerings.
- North Las Vegas, NV: Another city that aligns with Garland's blend of quiet living and specific entertainment strengths.
Sources
- OpenStreetMap restaurant counts, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality (Eats)
- OpenStreetMap bars, pubs, nightclubs and craft breweries/distilleries, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality (Drinks)
- OpenStreetMap café counts, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality (Coffee)
- Ticketmaster and SeatGeek show listings, plus OpenStreetMap music venues (Live Music)
- SeatGeek headliner popularity and Wikidata notable residents (rank-blended) (Star Power)
- OpenStreetMap parks, nature reserves, playgrounds and beaches, plus National Park Service units and Recreation.gov federal facilities (Outdoors)
- OpenStreetMap museums, galleries and theatres plus geo-tagged Wikipedia landmarks, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality (Culture)
- Ticketmaster and SeatGeek festivals, fairs and ticketed events (Events)
- Ticketmaster and SeatGeek pro and college games, plus OpenStreetMap stadiums, sports centres and fitness centres (Sports)
- OpenStreetMap escape rooms, arcades, trampoline parks and karaoke venues, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality (Unique Hangouts)
- GDELT news tone and Google Trends search interest (each percentile-ranked, then averaged) (City Vibe)
- NOAA climate normals — counts of comfortable days (Climate)
- GTFS schedules via Transit.land, the Federal Transit Administration National Transit Database and US Census ACS B08301 commuter mode share (Transit Quality)
- EPA National Walkability Index (block-group resolution, population-weighted to the city) (Walkability)
- NCES Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) full-time-equivalent enrollment and US Census ACS age cohort data (Higher Education)
- OpenStreetMap protected cycleway segments and the MobilityData GBFS bikeshare-feed catalog (Bike & Micromobility)
- FBI Crime Data Explorer and city open-data crime portals (Crime)
- US Census commute-time data (ACS) (Traffic)
- EPA AirNow and OpenAQ pollution readings (seven-day trailing average) (Air Quality)
- FEMA National Risk Index (Disaster Risk)
- NOAA Storm Events and climate-extremes data (Weather Extremes)
- Bureau of Labor Statistics unemployment, HUD Fair Market Rent and US Census median income plus poverty rate (Economic Strain)
- Bureau of Labor Statistics regional Consumer Price Index — food away from home, recreation services and transportation services (Going-Out Cost)
This narrative is generated by AI from CityFunIndex's measured data. The Fun Scores, ranks and raw values are computed deterministically; the wording around them is the model's. Verify any figure against the linked city page.
Go deeper
Use the data
Garland’s Fun Score and every factor score are available through the licensed CityFunIndex API — clean JSON, metered one call per city record, behind a paid key.
Cite this page
Paste-ready credit line for journalists, researchers and bloggers. Carries the score, the algorithm version and the canonical URL so readers can verify it themselves.
CityFunIndex Fun Score for Garland, TX: 0/100 (v2.1.0-dev). https://cityfunindex.com/city/garland-tx
Press, research and partnership enquiries: media kit · api@cityfunindex.com.