Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Buckeye, AZ
VS
Garden Grove, CA
🏆 Buckeye leads 15 of 22 categories
Buckeye
Arizona
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$94,188 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
44 ✓ Safer
Population
95,042
Garden Grove
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$86,139
Violent Crime Index
73
Population
171,637 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Buckeye, AZ
Pros
Homes cost $361k less ($341,700 vs $702,600)
40% less violent crime than Garden Grove
Violent crime is well below the national average (166.8 vs 380/100k)
16% cheaper overall cost of living than Garden Grove
Rent averages $290/mo less ($1,597 vs $1,887)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (5.0%)
Cons
Longer commutes — 32.5 min average each way
Hot summers — July highs average 107°F
Garden Grove, CA
Pros
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 107°F
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $702,600
Cost of living runs 16% higher than Buckeye
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Higher rents — median is $1,887/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Buckeye
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 100.0 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Buckeye
Median Income
$8,049
$94,188 vs $86,139/yr
Buckeye
Violent Crime
40% lower
166.8 vs 276.6 per 100k
Buckeye
Median Home Value
$361k less
$341,700 vs $702,600
Buckeye
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
5.0% vs 5.8% unemployment
Buckeye
Summer Heat
24.0°F warmer
July avg high 106.5°F vs 82.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Buckeye, AZ | Garden Grove, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.0 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $341,700⚠ High ✓ Lower | $702,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,597⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,887⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $94,188 ✓ Higher | $86,139 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 32.5 min⚠ High | 29.1 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 14.2% ✓ Higher | 8.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 41 ✓ Safer | 77 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 44 ✓ Safer | 73 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 37 ✓ Safer | 84 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (72) | C+ (87) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.9% | 23.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.2% ✓ Higher | 75.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Litchfield Elementary District (4281) | Garden Grove Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 66.1°F | 69.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 106.5°F ✓ Warmer | 82.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.0" ✓ Drier | 12.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 95,042 | 171,637 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.7 | 39.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 85.3% ✓ Higher | 54.0% |
| Under 18 | 28.5% ✓ More | 21.2% |
| Over 65 | 12.9% | 14.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Buckeye's cost of living index is 100.0 vs Garden Grove's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Buckeye is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Buckeye leads 15 of 22 categories. Buckeye wins 15 and Garden Grove wins 7. 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 Buckeye to Garden Grove or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($341,700 vs $702,600 median home), income ($94,188 vs $86,139), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Buckeye, AZ and Garden Grove, CA are about 307 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.