Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Compton, CA
VS
Garden Grove, CA
🏆 Garden Grove leads 16 of 21 categories
Compton
California
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$69,728
Violent Crime Index
335⚠ High
Population
94,822
Garden Grove
California
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$86,139 ✓ Higher
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.
Compton, CA
Pros
Homes cost $213k less ($489,400 vs $702,600)
Rent averages $423/mo less ($1,464 vs $1,887)
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 83°F
Cons
Violent crime (1271.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Garden Grove by $16,411/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Property crime (3145.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Garden Grove, CA
Pros
78% less violent crime than Compton
Households earn $16,411 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.1 pts lower (5.8%)
More college-educated — 23.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
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)
Key Differences at a Glance
Compton
Median Home Value
$213k less
$489,400 vs $702,600
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 115.5 on the COL index
Garden Grove
Median Income
$16,411
$86,139 vs $69,728/yr
Garden Grove
Violent Crime
78% lower
276.6 vs 1271.7 per 100k
Garden Grove
Unemployment
2.1 pp lower
5.8% vs 7.9% unemployment
Garden Grove
Summer Heat
5.3°F warmer
July avg high 82.5°F vs 77.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Compton, CA | Garden Grove, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $489,400⚠ High ✓ Lower | $702,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,464⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,887⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $69,728 | $86,139 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.9%⚠ High | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.8 min⚠ High | 29.1 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 3.3% | 8.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 261⚠ High | 77 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 335⚠ High | 73 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 150⚠ High | 84 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (77) | C+ (87) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 24.0:1 | 22.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 10.4% | 23.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 63.8% | 75.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Compton Unified | Garden Grove Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.3°F | 69.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 77.2°F | 82.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.8" ✓ Drier | 12.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 94,822 | 171,637 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.4 | 39.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.4% ✓ Higher | 54.0% |
| Under 18 | 27.9% ✓ More | 21.2% |
| Over 65 | 10.4% | 14.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Compton's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Garden Grove's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Both have a similar overall cost of living.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Garden Grove leads 16 of 21 categories. Compton wins 5 and Garden Grove wins 16. 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 Compton to Garden Grove or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($489,400 vs $702,600 median home), income ($69,728 vs $86,139), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Compton, CA and Garden Grove, CA are about 17 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.