Garden Grove, California
Cost of living, housing, income, commute, climate, and safety — compiled for relocators researching Garden Grove.
MapsToIt planning snapshot
How much does it cost to live in Garden Grove?
Garden Grove planning snapshot: population 172,361, housing index 199 (well above the U.S. housing-cost baseline), median home $765,500, median rent $1,971, and income near $90,166. Expect 83°F summer highs, 47°F winter lows, and about 28-minute one-way commutes. Violent-offense rates run about 292.2 per 100k (catalog avg 586.6).
Crime figures may use an older source vintage than housing and income on this page.
- Housing cost index
- 199U.S. avg 100
- Median home value
- $765,500U.S. $303,400
- Median rent
- $1,971U.S. $1,348
- Median income
- $90,166U.S. $78,538
- Unemployment
- 4.2%U.S. 4.2%
- Avg commute
- 28 minCatalog avg 25 min
- Violent crime
- 292.2per 100k · avg 586.6
- Summer high
- 83°FCatalog avg 87°F
Key figures
Each metric shows how Garden Grove compares with the U.S. baseline (ACS/BLS nationals where available; catalog-city averages for crime, climate, and commute). Income, housing, population, and crime are for the incorporated city (city limits), not the broader metro/MSA — unemployment is county-level (BLS LAUS).
- Population
- 172,361City limits · Census PEP 2024 estimate
As of 2026-09-10 · Census PEP 2024 - Median household income
- $90,166Incorporated place (ACS)
As of 2026-09-10 · ACS 2023 5-year15% above U.S. avgU.S. $78,538 - Housing cost index
- 199ACS home+rent vs U.S. (100 = avg)
As of 2026-09-10 · ACS 2023 5-year99% above U.S. avgU.S. 100 - Median home value
- $765,500City limits (ACS)
As of 2026-09-10 · ACS 2023 5-year152% above U.S. avgU.S. $303,400 - Median rent
- $1,971City limits (ACS)
As of 2026-09-10 · ACS 2023 5-year46% above U.S. avgU.S. $1,348 - Unemployment
- 4.2%County LAUS · not city-only
As of 2026-09-10 · July 2026Near U.S. avg (4.2 pts)U.S. 4.2 pts - Avg commute
- 28 min12% above U.S. avgU.S. 25 min
- Walk Score
- 5522% above U.S. avgU.S. 45
- Violent crime rate
- 292.2annualized per 100k · citywide
As of 2026-09-10 · 2019 offenses (FBI Table 8 fallback)50% below U.S. avgU.S. 586.6 - Property crime rate
- 2261.7annualized per 100k · citywide
As of 2026-09-10 · 2019 offenses (FBI Table 8 fallback)27% below U.S. avgU.S. 3087.9 - Summer high
- 83°FAs of 2026-09-10 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals4.0°F below U.S. avgU.S. 87°F
- Winter low
- 47°FAs of 2026-09-10 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals13.0°F above U.S. avgU.S. 34°F
- Annual rainfall
- 11.9 inAs of 2026-09-10 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals64% below U.S. avgU.S. 33 in
- Sunny days
- 327As of 2026-09-10 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals22% above U.S. avgU.S. 268
Population trend
Garden Grove grew 0.7% from 171,181 in 2010 to 172,361 in 2024.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau PEP city/town estimates (2010–2024). Playback steps monthly between annual Census PEP estimates.
Is Garden Grove expensive compared to the U.S. average?
Compared with the U.S. average, Garden Grove runs 99 points higher on MapsToIt's ACS housing index. Use that single number as a quick filter, then dig into home and rent cells for the budget you actually need.
- Housing cost index 199 (U.S. 100)
- Median home $765,500 vs U.S. $303,400
- Median rent $1,971 vs U.S. $1,348
How much does housing cost in Garden Grove?
Budget first around $1,971/month rent or $765,500 purchase prices — both are MapsToIt ACS medians, not listing ask averages. National ACS medians are $1,348 rent and $303,400 home value for context.
- Median home value $765,500
- Median rent $1,971/month
- Median household income $90,166
What is the job market like in Garden Grove?
Labor-market context for Garden Grove: unemployment 4.2% and median income $90,166. Those are BLS LAUS (county) and ACS figures — industry mix still matters more than the headline rate alone.
- Unemployment 4.2% (U.S. 4.2%)
- Median income $90,166
How long is the typical commute in Garden Grove?
Plan on roughly 28 minutes each way in Garden Grove. Walk Score estimates around 55 shape how car-dependent daily errands feel. Compare that with the 25-minute catalog average before you lock a neighborhood.
- 28 minutes average one-way
- Walk Score 55/100
Is Garden Grove safer than similar U.S. cities?
Garden Grove's FBI-derived violent rate (~292.2/100k) sits below the average of mapped MapsToIt cities. Use the figure as a screening signal, then verify the blocks you would actually live on.
- Violent 292.2 per 100k
- Property 2261.7 per 100k
What is the climate like year-round in Garden Grove?
Garden Grove's climate profile: 83°F summer peaks, 47°F winter mornings, 11.9" annual rainfall, and 327 sunny days — from the nearest NOAA normals station.
- Summer high 83°F
- Winter low 47°F
- 11.9 in rain · 327 sunny days
Pacific weather, wildfire seasons, and housing scarcity dominate relocation tradeoffs. Roughly 327 sunny days a year give outdoor routines unusual calendar reliability. Average one-way commute time is about 28 minutes, and Walk Score estimates land around 55/100. Labor-market readings near 4.2% unemployment are neither boom nor bust by national standards. Violent-offense rates around 292.2 per 100k are moderate for a large U.S. city, with meaningful variation by neighborhood.
About 172,361 people live in Garden Grove, CA. With median income around $90,166 and a cost index of 199, the market reads well above the national housing-cost baseline. Entry home prices around $765,500 still look attainable compared with coastal metros.
Garden Grove is compact enough that a single wrong neighborhood choice is easy to feel day to day — visit at commute hour before signing. Figures on this page are merged from Census ACS, BLS LAUS, FBI Crime Data Explorer, and NOAA Climate Normals — use them to compare Garden Grove with nearby alternatives before you relocate.
Nearby & similar cities
Continue researching with these internal links — each page is a full data profile.
Sources
- Census / ACS: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 5-year (Garden Grove city, 1600000US0629000) — As of 2026-09-10 · ACS 2023 5-year
- BLS: BLS LAUS · Orange County, July 2026 — As of 2026-09-10 · July 2026
- Crime: FBI CIUS Table 8 (2019) city offenses known to law enforcement — rates per 100k; CDE API unavailable at enrich time — As of 2026-09-10 · 2019 offenses (FBI Table 8 fallback)
- Climate: NOAA 1991–2020 Monthly Normals (USW00003166 FULLERTON MUNI AP) — As of 2026-09-10 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals
- Population trend: U.S. Census Bureau PEP city/town estimates (2010–2024) — As of 2026-09-10 · Census PEP 2024
Catalog refreshed 2026-09-10