Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Ann Arbor, MI
VS
Garden Grove, CA
🏆 Ann Arbor leads 12 of 23 categories
Ann Arbor
Michigan
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$78,546
Violent Crime Index
80
Population
122,216
Garden Grove
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$86,139 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
73 ✓ Safer
Population
171,637 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Ann Arbor, MI
Pros
Homes cost $286k less ($416,500 vs $702,600)
More college-educated — 77.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Rent averages $415/mo less ($1,472 vs $1,887)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.1 pts lower (3.7%)
18% cheaper overall cost of living than Garden Grove
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Garden Grove by $7,593/yr
Snowy winters — about 59" of snow per year
Garden Grove, CA
Pros
9% less violent crime than Ann Arbor
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 32°F
Households earn $7,593 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $702,600
Higher rents — median is $1,887/mo
Cost of living runs 18% higher than Ann Arbor
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Ann Arbor
Cost of Living
18% cheaper
COL index 98.0 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Ann Arbor
Median Home Value
$286k less
$416,500 vs $702,600
Ann Arbor
Unemployment
2.1 pp lower
3.7% vs 5.8% unemployment
Garden Grove
Median Income
$7,593
$86,139 vs $78,546/yr
Garden Grove
Violent Crime
9% lower
276.6 vs 302.5 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Ann Arbor, MI | Garden Grove, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.0 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $416,500⚠ High ✓ Lower | $702,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,472⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,887⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,546 | $86,139 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.7% ✓ Lower | 5.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.6 min ✓ Shorter | 29.1 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 23.2% ✓ Higher | 8.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 80 | 77 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 80 | 73 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 82 ✓ Safer | 84 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (119) ✓ Better | C+ (87) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 77.5% ✓ Higher | 23.5% |
| High School or Higher | 97.8% ✓ Higher | 75.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Ann Arbor Public Schools | Garden Grove Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.7°F | 69.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.0°F ✓ Warmer | 82.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 35.9" | 12.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 59.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 122,216 | 171,637 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 27.4 | 39.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.0% | 54.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 12.2% | 21.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.3% | 14.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Ann Arbor's cost of living index is 98.0 vs Garden Grove's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Ann Arbor is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Ann Arbor leads 12 of 23 categories. Ann Arbor wins 12 and Garden Grove wins 11. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Ann Arbor to Garden Grove or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($416,500 vs $702,600 median home), income ($78,546 vs $86,139), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Ann Arbor, MI and Garden Grove, CA are about 1,938 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.