Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Garden Grove, CA
VS
Kent, WA
🏆 Garden Grove leads 12 of 23 categories
Garden Grove
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$86,139
Violent Crime Index
73 ✓ Safer
Population
171,637 ✓ Larger
Kent
Washington
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$86,966 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
129⚠ High
Population
135,169
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Garden Grove, CA
Pros
44% less violent crime than Kent
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.8 pts lower (5.8%)
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 48°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $702,600
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Higher rents — median is $1,887/mo
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Kent
Kent, WA
Pros
Homes cost $224k less ($478,400 vs $702,600)
Rent averages $145/mo less ($1,742 vs $1,887)
More college-educated — 27.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 18.0:1 student-teacher ratio
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Garden Grove
Cons
Violent crime (489.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Property crime (3771.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.6% vs 5.8%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Garden Grove
Violent Crime
44% lower
276.6 vs 489.7 per 100k
Garden Grove
Unemployment
1.8 pp lower
5.8% vs 7.6% unemployment
Garden Grove
Summer Heat
4.2°F warmer
July avg high 82.5°F vs 78.3°F
Kent
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 113.0 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Kent
Median Income
$827
$86,966 vs $86,139/yr
Kent
Median Home Value
$224k less
$478,400 vs $702,600
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Garden Grove, CA | Kent, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 113.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $702,600⚠ High | $478,400⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,887⚠ High | $1,742⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $86,139 | $86,966 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.1 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 30.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 8.7% | 10.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 77 ✓ Safer | 149⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 73 ✓ Safer | 129⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 84 ✓ Safer | 180⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (87) | C+ (88) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.9:1 | 18.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 23.5% | 27.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 75.4% | 87.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Garden Grove Unified | Kent School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 69.3°F ✓ Warmer | 48.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 82.5°F ✓ Warmer | 78.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 12.5" ✓ Drier | 44.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 6.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 171,637 ✓ Larger | 135,169 |
| Median Age | 39.2 ✓ Older | 34.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.0% | 55.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.2% | 24.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.3% ✓ More | 10.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Garden Grove's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Kent's 113.0 (US average = 100).
Kent is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Garden Grove leads 12 of 23 categories. Garden Grove wins 12 and Kent wins 11. 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 Garden Grove to Kent or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($702,600 vs $478,400 median home), income ($86,139 vs $86,966), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Garden Grove, CA and Kent, WA are about 966 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.