Garden Grove vs Fort Collins: Cost of Living (2026)

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

MetricGarden Grove, CAFort Collins, CO
Population171,637168,758
Median household income$86,139$78,977
Median home value$702,600$497,400
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 Fort Collins, CO comes down to what you value most. Fort Collins has the lower median home value, and Fort Collins 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 Fort Collins?
By median home value, Fort Collins is the cheaper of the two ($497,400 vs $702,600). Rent and income differ too — see the full comparison above.
Which has higher salaries, Garden Grove or Fort Collins?
Median household income is $86,139 in Garden Grove versus $78,977 in Fort Collins, per the US Census Bureau.

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