Garden Grove vs Lancaster: Cost of Living (2026)

A side-by-side comparison of Garden Grove, CA and Lancaster, CA, using US Census Bureau data.

MetricGarden Grove, CALancaster, CA
Population171,637171,465
Median household income$86,139$71,367
Median home value$702,600$368,800
Median rent (/mo)$1,887$1,576

Source: US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022). Highlighted cell = more affordable / higher income.

Comparing Garden Grove, CA and Lancaster, CA comes down to what you value most. Lancaster has the lower median home value, and Lancaster has the lower median rent.

Garden Grove has the higher median household income, which affects how far a paycheck stretches against local housing costs. The table below breaks down the key numbers side by side, all sourced from the US Census Bureau.

Frequently asked questions

Is it cheaper to live in Garden Grove or Lancaster?
By median home value, Lancaster is the cheaper of the two ($368,800 vs $702,600). Rent and income differ too — see the full comparison above.
Which has higher salaries, Garden Grove or Lancaster?
Median household income is $86,139 in Garden Grove versus $71,367 in Lancaster, per the US Census Bureau.

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