Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Green Bay, WI
VS
Orange, CA
🏆 Orange leads 14 of 23 categories
Green Bay
Wisconsin
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,174
Violent Crime Index
130⚠ High
Population
106,846
Orange
California
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$109,335 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
60 ✓ Safer
Population
138,728 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Green Bay, WI
Pros
Homes cost $676k less ($172,700 vs $848,200)
Rent averages $1284/mo less ($864 vs $2,148)
23% cheaper overall cost of living than Orange
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (4.1%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.1)
Cons
Median income trails Orange by $50,161/yr
Violent crime (495.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Snowy winters — about 56" of snow per year
Orange, CA
Pros
Households earn $50,161 more per year on average
54% less violent crime than Green Bay
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 25°F
Violent crime is well below the national average (226.1 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 40.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $848,200
Higher rents — median is $2,148/mo
Cost of living runs 23% higher than Green Bay
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Green Bay
Cost of Living
23% cheaper
COL index 92.1 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Green Bay
Median Home Value
$676k less
$172,700 vs $848,200
Green Bay
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
4.1% vs 4.7% unemployment
Orange
Median Income
$50,161
$109,335 vs $59,174/yr
Orange
Violent Crime
54% lower
226.1 vs 495.1 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Green Bay, WI | Orange, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.1 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $172,700 ✓ Lower | $848,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $864 ✓ Lower | $2,148⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,174 | $109,335 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 4.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.0 min ✓ Shorter | 26.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.6% | 14.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 103⚠ High | 60 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 130⚠ High | 60 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 62 | 61 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) ✓ Better | B (98) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 24.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 25.1% | 40.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.5% ✓ Higher | 88.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Green Bay Area Public School District | Orange Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 24.5°F | 69.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 79.8°F | 82.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 32.2" | 12.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 55.6" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 106,846 | 138,728 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.6 | 36.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.2% | 58.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.0% ✓ More | 20.5% |
| Over 65 | 13.9% | 14.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Green Bay's cost of living index is 92.1 vs Orange's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Green Bay is 23% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Orange leads 14 of 23 categories. Green Bay wins 9 and Orange wins 14. 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 Green Bay to Orange or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($172,700 vs $848,200 median home), income ($59,174 vs $109,335), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Green Bay, WI and Orange, CA are about 1,751 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.