Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Garden Grove, CA
VS
Surprise, AZ
🏆 Surprise leads 19 of 22 categories
Garden Grove
California
3
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$86,139
Violent Crime Index
73
Population
171,637 ✓ Larger
Surprise
Arizona
19
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$87,756 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
29 ✓ Safer
Population
145,591
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Garden Grove, CA
Pros
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 105°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $702,600
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Cost of living runs 14% higher than Surprise
Higher unemployment (5.8% vs 4.6%)
Surprise, AZ
Pros
Homes cost $350k less ($352,600 vs $702,600)
61% less violent crime than Garden Grove
Violent crime is well below the national average (109.1 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (4.6%)
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Garden Grove
More college-educated — 31.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Hot summers — July highs average 105°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Surprise
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 101.2 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Surprise
Median Income
$1,617
$87,756 vs $86,139/yr
Surprise
Violent Crime
61% lower
109.1 vs 276.6 per 100k
Surprise
Median Home Value
$350k less
$352,600 vs $702,600
Surprise
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
4.6% vs 5.8% unemployment
Surprise
Summer Heat
22.1°F warmer
July avg high 104.6°F vs 82.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Garden Grove, CA | Surprise, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 101.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $702,600⚠ High | $352,600⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,887⚠ High | $1,822⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $86,139 | $87,756 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.1 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 30.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 8.7% | 14.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 77 | 34 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 73 | 29 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 84 | 42 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (87) | B- (95) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.9:1 | 20.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 23.5% | 31.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 75.4% | 93.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Garden Grove Unified | Dysart Unified District (4243) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 69.3°F ✓ Warmer | 65.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 82.5°F | 104.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 12.5" | 9.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 171,637 ✓ Larger | 145,591 |
| Median Age | 39.2 | 41.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.0% | 78.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.2% | 24.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.3% | 22.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Garden Grove's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Surprise's 101.2 (US average = 100).
Surprise is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Surprise leads 19 of 22 categories. Garden Grove wins 3 and Surprise wins 19. 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 Surprise or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($702,600 vs $352,600 median home), income ($86,139 vs $87,756), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Garden Grove, CA and Surprise, AZ are about 317 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.