Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Beaverton, OR
VS
Garden Grove, CA
🏆 Beaverton leads 12 of 23 categories
Beaverton
Oregon
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$88,899 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
96
Population
97,554
Garden Grove
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$86,139
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.
Beaverton, OR
Pros
Homes cost $208k less ($494,700 vs $702,600)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.9 pts lower (3.9%)
More college-educated — 48.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Rent averages $224/mo less ($1,663 vs $1,887)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Garden Grove
Cons
Property crime (2661.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Garden Grove, CA
Pros
24% less violent crime than Beaverton
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 49°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $702,600
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Higher rents — median is $1,887/mo
Higher unemployment (5.8% vs 3.9%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Beaverton
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 106.6 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Beaverton
Median Income
$2,760
$88,899 vs $86,139/yr
Beaverton
Median Home Value
$208k less
$494,700 vs $702,600
Beaverton
Unemployment
1.9 pp lower
3.9% vs 5.8% unemployment
Garden Grove
Violent Crime
24% lower
276.6 vs 364.8 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Beaverton, OR | Garden Grove, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 106.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $494,700⚠ High ✓ Lower | $702,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,663⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,887⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $88,899 ✓ Higher | $86,139 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.3 min ✓ Shorter | 29.1 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 17.7% ✓ Higher | 8.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 108⚠ High | 77 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 | 73 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 127⚠ High | 84 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (109) ✓ Better | C+ (87) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 48.3% ✓ Higher | 23.5% |
| High School or Higher | 94.5% ✓ Higher | 75.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Beaverton SD 48J | Garden Grove Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.7°F | 69.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.3°F | 82.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 42.0" | 12.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.6" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 97,554 | 171,637 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.7 | 39.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 50.3% | 54.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.0% | 21.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.4% ✓ More | 14.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Beaverton's cost of living index is 106.6 vs Garden Grove's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Beaverton is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Beaverton leads 12 of 23 categories. Beaverton 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 Beaverton to Garden Grove or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($494,700 vs $702,600 median home), income ($88,899 vs $86,139), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Beaverton, OR and Garden Grove, CA are about 848 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.