Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Augusta-Richmond County, GA
VS
Garden Grove, CA
🏆 Augusta-Richmond County leads 12 of 20 categories
Augusta-Richmond County
Georgia
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$50,492
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
201,615 ✓ Larger
Garden Grove
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$86,139 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
73
Population
171,637
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Augusta-Richmond County, GA
Pros
Homes cost $561k less ($141,900 vs $702,600)
Rent averages $864/mo less ($1,023 vs $1,887)
25% cheaper overall cost of living than Garden Grove
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.0)
Smaller class sizes — 14.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Garden Grove by $35,647/yr
Higher unemployment (8.3% vs 5.8%)
Garden Grove, CA
Pros
Households earn $35,647 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.5 pts lower (5.8%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 94°F
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 60°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $702,600
Higher rents — median is $1,887/mo
Cost of living runs 25% higher than Augusta-Richmond County
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Augusta-Richmond County
Cost of Living
25% cheaper
COL index 91.0 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Augusta-Richmond County
Median Home Value
$561k less
$141,900 vs $702,600
Augusta-Richmond County
Summer Heat
11.6°F warmer
July avg high 94.1°F vs 82.5°F
Garden Grove
Median Income
$35,647
$86,139 vs $50,492/yr
Garden Grove
Unemployment
2.5 pp lower
5.8% vs 8.3% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Augusta-Richmond County, GA | Garden Grove, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.0 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $141,900 ✓ Lower | $702,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,023 ✓ Lower | $1,887⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $50,492 | $86,139 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.3%⚠ High | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.2 min ✓ Shorter | 29.1 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.0% | 8.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | — | 77 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 73 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 84 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (90) ✓ Better | C+ (87) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 23.8% ✓ Higher | 23.5% |
| High School or Higher | 87.7% ✓ Higher | 75.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Richmond County | Garden Grove Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 59.6°F | 69.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 94.1°F ✓ Warmer | 82.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.1" | 12.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.8" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 201,615 ✓ Larger | 171,637 |
| Median Age | 34.6 | 39.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.0% | 54.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.9% ✓ More | 21.2% |
| Over 65 | 14.5% ✓ More | 14.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Augusta-Richmond County's cost of living index is 91.0 vs Garden Grove's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Augusta-Richmond County is 24% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Augusta-Richmond County leads 12 of 20 categories. Augusta-Richmond County wins 12 and Garden Grove wins 8. 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 Augusta-Richmond County to Garden Grove or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($141,900 vs $702,600 median home), income ($50,492 vs $86,139), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Augusta-Richmond County, GA and Garden Grove, CA are about 2,056 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.
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