Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Garden Grove, CA
VS
Worcester, MA
🏆 Worcester leads 11 of 21 categories
Garden Grove
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$86,139 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
73
Population
171,637
Worcester
Massachusetts
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$63,011
Violent Crime Index
4 ✓ Safer
Population
204,191 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Garden Grove, CA
Pros
Households earn $23,128 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 32°F
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (5.8%)
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)
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Worcester
Worcester, MA
Pros
Homes cost $397k less ($305,600 vs $702,600)
94% less violent crime than Garden Grove
Rent averages $575/mo less ($1,312 vs $1,887)
Violent crime is well below the national average (16.5 vs 380/100k)
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Garden Grove
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Garden Grove by $23,128/yr
Higher unemployment (6.6% vs 5.8%)
Snowy winters — about 73" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Garden Grove
Median Income
$23,128
$86,139 vs $63,011/yr
Garden Grove
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
5.8% vs 6.6% unemployment
Worcester
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 103.8 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Worcester
Violent Crime
94% lower
16.5 vs 276.6 per 100k
Worcester
Median Home Value
$397k less
$305,600 vs $702,600
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Garden Grove, CA | Worcester, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 103.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $702,600⚠ High | $305,600⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,887⚠ High | $1,312 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $86,139 ✓ Higher | $63,011 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.1 min⚠ High | 24.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.7% | 9.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 77 | — |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 73 | 4 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 84 | — |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (87) | B+ (106) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.9:1 | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 23.5% | 33.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 75.4% | 85.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Garden Grove Unified | Worcester |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 69.3°F ✓ Warmer | 32.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 82.5°F ✓ Warmer | 79.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 12.5" ✓ Drier | 48.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 72.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 171,637 | 204,191 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.2 ✓ Older | 34.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.0% ✓ Higher | 42.1% |
| Under 18 | 21.2% ✓ More | 19.5% |
| Over 65 | 14.3% ✓ More | 13.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Garden Grove's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Worcester's 103.8 (US average = 100).
Worcester is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Worcester leads 11 of 21 categories. Garden Grove wins 10 and Worcester 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 Worcester or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($702,600 vs $305,600 median home), income ($86,139 vs $63,011), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Garden Grove, CA and Worcester, MA are about 2,547 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.