Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Carrollton, TX
VS
Garden Grove, CA
🏆 Carrollton leads 16 of 23 categories
Carrollton
Texas
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$95,380 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
36 ✓ Safer
Population
132,284
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.
Carrollton, TX
Pros
Homes cost $375k less ($327,300 vs $702,600)
50% less violent crime than Garden Grove
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.1 pts lower (3.7%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (137.1 vs 380/100k)
Rent averages $332/mo less ($1,555 vs $1,887)
More college-educated — 42.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Garden Grove, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 56°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 94°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 Carrollton
Key Differences at a Glance
Carrollton
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Carrollton
Median Income
$9,241
$95,380 vs $86,139/yr
Carrollton
Violent Crime
50% lower
137.1 vs 276.6 per 100k
Carrollton
Median Home Value
$375k less
$327,300 vs $702,600
Carrollton
Unemployment
2.1 pp lower
3.7% vs 5.8% unemployment
Carrollton
Summer Heat
11.8°F warmer
July avg high 94.3°F vs 82.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Carrollton, 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 | $327,300⚠ High ✓ Lower | $702,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,555⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,887⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $95,380 ✓ Higher | $86,139 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.7% ✓ Lower | 5.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.4 min ✓ Shorter | 29.1 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 17.8% ✓ Higher | 8.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 47 ✓ Safer | 77 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 36 ✓ Safer | 73 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 63 ✓ Safer | 84 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (119) ✓ Better | C+ (87) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.1% ✓ Higher | 23.5% |
| High School or Higher | 89.4% ✓ Higher | 75.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | CARROLLTON-FARMERS BRANCH ISD | Garden Grove Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.9°F | 69.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer | 82.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 39.8" | 12.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 132,284 | 171,637 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.6 | 39.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 58.3% ✓ Higher | 54.0% |
| Under 18 | 19.9% | 21.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.9% | 14.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Carrollton's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Garden Grove's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Carrollton is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Carrollton leads 16 of 23 categories. Carrollton wins 16 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 Carrollton to Garden Grove or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($327,300 vs $702,600 median home), income ($95,380 vs $86,139), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Carrollton, TX and Garden Grove, CA are about 1,214 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.