Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Garden Grove, CA
VS
Odessa, TX
🏆 Garden Grove leads 12 of 21 categories
Garden Grove
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$86,139 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
73 ✓ Safer
Population
171,637 ✓ Larger
Odessa
Texas
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,293
Violent Crime Index
83
Population
113,353
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Garden Grove, CA
Pros
13% less violent crime than Odessa
Households earn $14,846 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 57°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 94°F
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
Cost of living runs 23% higher than Odessa
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Odessa, TX
Pros
Homes cost $509k less ($193,500 vs $702,600)
Rent averages $605/mo less ($1,282 vs $1,887)
23% cheaper overall cost of living than Garden Grove
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.1)
Cons
Median income trails Garden Grove by $14,846/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Garden Grove
Median Income
$14,846
$86,139 vs $71,293/yr
Garden Grove
Violent Crime
13% lower
276.6 vs 316.3 per 100k
Odessa
Cost of Living
23% cheaper
COL index 92.1 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Odessa
Median Home Value
$509k less
$193,500 vs $702,600
Odessa
Summer Heat
11.5°F warmer
July avg high 94.0°F vs 82.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Garden Grove, CA | Odessa, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 92.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $702,600⚠ High | $193,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,887⚠ High | $1,282 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $86,139 ✓ Higher | $71,293 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.1 min⚠ High | 23.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.7% ✓ Higher | 3.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 77 ✓ Safer | 85 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 73 ✓ Safer | 83 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 84 ✓ Safer | 88 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (87) | — |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.9:1 | — |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 23.5% ✓ Higher | 18.4% |
| High School or Higher | 75.4% | 81.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Garden Grove Unified | UTPB STEM ACADEMY |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 69.3°F ✓ Warmer | 56.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 82.5°F | 94.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 12.5" | 12.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 0.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 171,637 ✓ Larger | 113,353 |
| Median Age | 39.2 ✓ Older | 30.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.0% | 59.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.2% | 29.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.3% ✓ More | 9.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Garden Grove's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Odessa's 92.1 (US average = 100).
Odessa is 23% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Garden Grove leads 12 of 21 categories. Garden Grove wins 12 and Odessa wins 9. 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 Odessa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($702,600 vs $193,500 median home), income ($86,139 vs $71,293), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Garden Grove, CA and Odessa, TX are about 915 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.