Garden Grove vs Oceanside: Cost of Living (2026)
A side-by-side comparison of Garden Grove, CA and Oceanside, CA, using US Census Bureau data.
| Metric | Garden Grove, CA | Oceanside, CA |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 171,637 | 173,722 |
| Median household income | $86,139 | $86,701 |
| Median home value | $702,600 | $644,600 |
| Median rent (/mo) | $1,887 | $2,078 |
Source: US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022). Highlighted cell = more affordable / higher income.
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compare-top (set NEXT_PUBLIC_ADSENSE_CLIENT to serve real ads)Comparing Garden Grove, CA and Oceanside, CA comes down to what you value most. Oceanside has the lower median home value, and Garden Grove has the lower median rent.
Oceanside 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 Oceanside?
- By median home value, Oceanside is the cheaper of the two ($644,600 vs $702,600). Rent and income differ too — see the full comparison above.
- Which has higher salaries, Garden Grove or Oceanside?
- Median household income is $86,139 in Garden Grove versus $86,701 in Oceanside, per the US Census Bureau.