Garden Grove, CA Relocation Guide (2026)
Cost of living, housing, and income data for Garden Grove, sourced from the US Census Bureau.
Salary needed to live in Garden Grove →
Source: US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022). Last updated July 2026.
Garden Grove, California is home to roughly 171,637 residents. The typical household here earns $86,139 a year — above the median we track across cities (+19%).
Anyone weighing a move to Garden Grove should know the median home value is $702,600, above the multi-city median (+115%), and median rent runs $1,887 per month. Current mortgage rates and local property taxes both affect the real math of buying versus renting.
The ratio of median home value to median household income in Garden Grove — roughly 8.2× — is on the high side, a sign that local pay hasn't kept pace with housing costs. Garden Grove's home prices climbed 3.33% over the past year — steady appreciation without signs of overheating. FEMA rates Garden Grove's overall natural-hazard risk as Very High — worth factoring into home insurance costs.
Personal Affordability Check
Renting at $1,887/mo in Garden Grove would take 26.3% of your income.
$266/mo under the 30% guideline.
Buying the median home ($702,600) would take 52.3% of your income toward principal & interest.
$1,741/mo over the 28% guideline.
Cost of housing in Garden Grove
Median home value is $702,600 and median gross rent is $1,887/month. For buyers, monthly costs depend heavily on current mortgage rates — worth checking before you commit.
FHFA's county-level home price index for Orange rose 3.33% over the past year (as of 2025).
HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom unit in the surrounding county is $3,236/month.
Climate & home insurance
FEMA rates Garden Grove's overall natural-hazard risk as Very High. Risk level is a major driver of home insurance premiums.
Safety
Garden Grove reported a violent crime rate of 239.4 per 100,000 residents in 2025, per FBI data.
Moving to Garden Grove
Planning a move to Garden Grove? Compare licensed movers and get quotes based on your origin and move date.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the cost of living in Garden Grove, CA?
- The US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022) puts Garden Grove's median home value at $702,600, median rent at $1,887/month, and median household income at $86,139.
- How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Garden Grove?
- At Garden Grove's median rent of $1,887/month, the 30%-of-income guideline suggests an annual income around $75,480 to stay comfortably housed. See the full salary breakdown (renting and buying) for Garden Grove.
- Is it better to rent or buy in Garden Grove?
- With a median home value of $702,600 and median rent of $1,887/month, renting comfortably in Garden Grove takes about $75,480/year (the 30% guideline), while buying at the median price takes roughly $160,751/year in principal-and-interest alone (assumes 20% down, a 30-year fixed loan, and current mortgage rates). The right call depends on how long you plan to stay and your down payment.
- Is Garden Grove safe?
- Garden Grove reported a violent crime rate of 239.4 per 100,000 residents in 2025, per FBI data. Compare that figure against other cities you're considering for context.
See the full salary breakdown for Garden Grove →
Cities with a similar cost of living
Matched on median rent and household income within 15% of Garden Grove's.