Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Colorado Springs, CO
VS
Garden Grove, CA
🏆 Colorado Springs leads 14 of 22 categories
Colorado Springs
Colorado
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$79,026
Violent Crime Index
188⚠ High
Population
479,612 ✓ Larger
Garden Grove
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$86,139 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
73 ✓ Safer
Population
171,637
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Colorado Springs, CO
Pros
Homes cost $320k less ($383,000 vs $702,600)
Rent averages $423/mo less ($1,464 vs $1,887)
18% cheaper overall cost of living than Garden Grove
More college-educated — 41.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Smaller class sizes — 14.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (715.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3448.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Garden Grove by $7,113/yr
Snowy winters — about 55" of snow per year
Garden Grove, CA
Pros
61% less violent crime than Colorado Springs
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 45°F
Households earn $7,113 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $702,600
Higher rents — median is $1,887/mo
Cost of living runs 18% higher than Colorado Springs
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Colorado Springs
Cost of Living
18% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Colorado Springs
Median Home Value
$320k less
$383,000 vs $702,600
Colorado Springs
Summer Heat
4.0°F warmer
July avg high 86.5°F vs 82.5°F
Garden Grove
Median Income
$7,113
$86,139 vs $79,026/yr
Garden Grove
Violent Crime
61% lower
276.6 vs 715.6 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Colorado Springs, CO | Garden Grove, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $383,000⚠ High ✓ Lower | $702,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,464⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,887⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $79,026 | $86,139 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.9 min ✓ Shorter | 29.1 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 13.8% ✓ Higher | 8.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 179⚠ High | 77 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 188⚠ High | 73 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 164⚠ High | 84 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (99) ✓ Better | C+ (87) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 41.1% ✓ Higher | 23.5% |
| High School or Higher | 94.3% ✓ Higher | 75.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Colorado Springs School District No. 11 in the county of E | Garden Grove Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 45.0°F | 69.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.5°F ✓ Warmer | 82.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 19.0" | 12.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 55.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 479,612 ✓ Larger | 171,637 |
| Median Age | 35.1 | 39.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 61.1% ✓ Higher | 54.0% |
| Under 18 | 22.1% ✓ More | 21.2% |
| Over 65 | 14.3% | 14.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Colorado Springs's cost of living index is 97.4 vs Garden Grove's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Colorado Springs is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Colorado Springs leads 14 of 22 categories. Colorado Springs 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 Colorado Springs to Garden Grove or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($383,000 vs $702,600 median home), income ($79,026 vs $86,139), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Colorado Springs, CO and Garden Grove, CA are about 814 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.