Head-to-Head · City Comparison
College Station, TX
VS
Garden Grove, CA
🏆 College Station leads 14 of 22 categories
College Station
Texas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$52,397
Violent Crime Index
45 ✓ Safer
Population
120,451
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 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
College Station, TX
Pros
Homes cost $397k less ($305,800 vs $702,600)
Rent averages $758/mo less ($1,129 vs $1,887)
38% less violent crime than Garden Grove
25% cheaper overall cost of living than Garden Grove
More college-educated — 58.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 12 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Garden Grove by $33,742/yr
Garden Grove, CA
Pros
Households earn $33,742 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 95°F
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 62°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $702,600
Higher rents — median is $1,887/mo
Cost of living runs 25% higher than College Station
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
College Station
Cost of Living
25% cheaper
COL index 90.7 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
College Station
Violent Crime
38% lower
170.5 vs 276.6 per 100k
College Station
Median Home Value
$397k less
$305,800 vs $702,600
College Station
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
4.7% vs 5.8% unemployment
College Station
Summer Heat
12.9°F warmer
July avg high 95.4°F vs 82.5°F
Garden Grove
Median Income
$33,742
$86,139 vs $52,397/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | College Station, TX | Garden Grove, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.7 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $305,800⚠ High ✓ Lower | $702,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,129 ✓ Lower | $1,887⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $52,397 | $86,139 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 16.9 min ✓ Shorter | 29.1 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 11.3% ✓ Higher | 8.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 48 ✓ Safer | 77 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 45 ✓ Safer | 73 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 53 ✓ Safer | 84 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (129) ✓ Better | C+ (87) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 58.3% ✓ Higher | 23.5% |
| High School or Higher | 95.3% ✓ Higher | 75.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | COLLEGE STATION ISD | Garden Grove Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 61.7°F | 69.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 95.4°F ✓ Warmer | 82.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.2" | 12.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 120,451 | 171,637 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 22.9 | 39.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 36.3% | 54.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.5% | 21.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 6.8% | 14.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
College Station's cost of living index is 90.7 vs Garden Grove's 115.5 (US average = 100).
College Station is 25% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, College Station leads 14 of 22 categories. College Station wins 14 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 College Station to Garden Grove or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($305,800 vs $702,600 median home), income ($52,397 vs $86,139), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
College Station, TX and Garden Grove, CA are about 1,283 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.