Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Arlington, TX
VS
Garden Grove, CA
🏆 Arlington leads 14 of 23 categories
Arlington
Texas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,736
Violent Crime Index
127⚠ High
Population
393,469 ✓ Larger
Garden Grove
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$86,139 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
73 ✓ Safer
Population
171,637
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Arlington, TX
Pros
Homes cost $451k less ($251,300 vs $702,600)
Rent averages $590/mo less ($1,297 vs $1,887)
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Garden Grove
More college-educated — 32.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 13.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (482.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Garden Grove by $14,403/yr
Garden Grove, CA
Pros
43% less violent crime than Arlington
Households earn $14,403 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 96°F
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 58°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $702,600
Higher rents — median is $1,887/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Arlington
Key Differences at a Glance
Arlington
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Arlington
Median Home Value
$451k less
$251,300 vs $702,600
Arlington
Summer Heat
13.4°F warmer
July avg high 95.9°F vs 82.5°F
Garden Grove
Median Income
$14,403
$86,139 vs $71,736/yr
Garden Grove
Violent Crime
43% lower
276.6 vs 482.9 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Arlington, TX | Garden Grove, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $251,300 ✓ Lower | $702,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,297 ✓ Lower | $1,887⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,736 | $86,139 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.9 min ✓ Shorter | 29.1 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% ✓ Higher | 8.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 122⚠ High | 77 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 127⚠ High | 73 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 115⚠ High | 84 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) ✓ Better | C+ (87) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.4% ✓ Higher | 23.5% |
| High School or Higher | 85.9% ✓ Higher | 75.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ARLINGTON ISD | Garden Grove Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 57.9°F | 69.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 95.9°F ✓ Warmer | 82.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.2" | 12.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.8" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 393,469 ✓ Larger | 171,637 |
| Median Age | 33.1 | 39.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.9% ✓ Higher | 54.0% |
| Under 18 | 25.3% ✓ More | 21.2% |
| Over 65 | 11.1% | 14.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Arlington's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Garden Grove's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Arlington is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Arlington leads 14 of 23 categories. Arlington wins 14 and Garden Grove wins 9. 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 Arlington to Garden Grove or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($251,300 vs $702,600 median home), income ($71,736 vs $86,139), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Arlington, TX and Garden Grove, CA are about 1,204 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.