Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Garden Grove, CA
VS
Kirkland, WA
🏆 It's a dead heat — 11 categories each
Garden Grove
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$86,139
Violent Crime Index
73
Population
171,637 ✓ Larger
Kirkland
Washington
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$135,608 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
16 ✓ Safer
Population
92,015
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Garden Grove, CA
Pros
Homes cost $235k less ($702,600 vs $937,700)
Rent averages $363/mo less ($1,887 vs $2,250)
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 47°F
Cons
Median income trails Kirkland by $49,469/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Higher unemployment (5.8% vs 4.7%)
Longer commutes — 29.1 min average each way
Kirkland, WA
Pros
78% less violent crime than Garden Grove
Households earn $49,469 more per year on average
More college-educated — 62.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (60.6 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (4.7%)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $937,700
Higher rents — median is $2,250/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Key Differences at a Glance
Garden Grove
Median Home Value
$235k less
$702,600 vs $937,700
Garden Grove
Summer Heat
6.0°F warmer
July avg high 82.5°F vs 76.5°F
Kirkland
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 113.0 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Kirkland
Median Income
$49,469
$135,608 vs $86,139/yr
Kirkland
Violent Crime
78% lower
60.6 vs 276.6 per 100k
Kirkland
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
4.7% vs 5.8% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Garden Grove, CA | Kirkland, 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 ✓ Lower | $937,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,887⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,250⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $86,139 | $135,608 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.1 min⚠ High | 25.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.7% | 24.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 77 | 48 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 73 | 16 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 84 ✓ Safer | 96 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (87) | C+ (89) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.9:1 | — |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 23.5% | 62.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 75.4% | 96.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Garden Grove Unified | Lake Washington Institute of Technology |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 69.3°F ✓ Warmer | 47.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 82.5°F ✓ Warmer | 76.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 12.5" ✓ Drier | 37.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 3.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 171,637 ✓ Larger | 92,015 |
| Median Age | 39.2 ✓ Older | 38.0 |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.0% | 62.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.2% ✓ More | 20.0% |
| Over 65 | 14.3% ✓ More | 14.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Garden Grove's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Kirkland's 113.0 (US average = 100).
Kirkland is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. Garden Grove wins 11 and Kirkland 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 Kirkland or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($702,600 vs $937,700 median home), income ($86,139 vs $135,608), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Garden Grove, CA and Kirkland, WA are about 987 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.