City profile · California · Census ACS 2023

Garden Grove, CA

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Garden Grove - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

170,603
Residents
$90,166
Median income
$765,500
Median home
$3,236
Median rent (state)

Garden Grove - the verdict

Garden Grove ranks in the 71st percentile for household income and the 31st percentile for safety nationally, out of every US city with at least 1,000 residents. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

71st
percentile, household income
94th
percentile, home value
98th
percentile, median rent
31st
percentile, safety
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Garden Grove, CA

Garden Grove is a mid-sized U.S. city in California, home to 170,603 residents per U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. Median household income here is $90,166 per year, above the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 9.4%. Home values in Garden Grove run a median of $765,500, and the median resident age is 39.6 years. About 24.9% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 60.1% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

In 2024, 108 residential building permits were authorized in Garden Grove (Construction Slowdown), down 81% from five years earlier, per Census BPS data. Crime here tracks close to the national norm: FBI UCR reporting places total crime at 2035.4 incidents per 100,000 residents, near the national average (voluntary agency reporting, reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score).

California carries a cost-of-living premium: BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 puts California at 110.7 on a 100-equals-national-average scale (Well Above Average). Statewide, HUD pegs Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit at $3,236 monthly. Statewide, average monthly utility bills in California run around $275, per EIA 2023 residential energy data. Workers in Garden Grove report an average commute of 25.9 minutes, with 73.9% driving alone and 10.1% working from home. FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 99.8 out of 100 (Very High).

Population

170,603 residents

Census ACS 2023 - California

Median Household Income

$90,166 /yr

Poverty 9.4%

Cost of Living Index (state)

110.7 (US=100)

Well Above Average - BEA RPP 2024, California average

How does Garden Grove compare to other US cities?

Where Garden Grove sits among all US cities (population 1,000+) on each measure, computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 71% higher than other cities
Home value 94% pricier than other cities
Median rent 98% pricier than other cities
Safety 31% safer than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

A national percentile can hide a lot of local variation: narrowed to California alone, Garden Grove ranks #246 of 441 California cities by lowest crime rate - a different, more locally useful comparison than stacking it against the entire country.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Garden Grove against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to California only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

California-relative analysis

Median Gross Rent places Garden Grove toward the top of California's cities

Among the 1,458 California cities PlainCities tracks with reported median gross rent data, Garden Grove ranks #138 - the 82nd percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Garden Grove only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#629 of 1,338
53rd percentile in California
Median Gross Rent
#138 of 1,458
82nd percentile in California
Median Home Value
#385 of 1,343
71st percentile in California
Poverty Rate
#531 of 1,450
63rd percentile in California
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#751 of 1,458
48th percentile in California

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within California only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

71stIncome percentile
31stSafety percentile

71st percentile nationally for median household income · 31st percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Garden Grove's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Garden Grove's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown. 3-axis radar comparing 1 series across Income, Affordability, Safety. IncomeAffordabilitySafety 35 Avg. percentile National median
Garden Grove's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown.

How Garden Grove's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$765,500 6th percentile more affordable than 6% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Below this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). This entry sits in this band. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Garden Grove $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Garden Grove, CA Garden Grove, CA's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Garden Grove, CA-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Garden Grove, CA median $90,166/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Garden Grove, CA's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Garden Grove, CA. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 24.9%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 9.4%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 60.1%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
170,603
Median Income
$90,166
Median Home Value
$765,500
Median Age
39.6
Poverty Rate
9.4%
Labor force participation
60.1%
Bachelor's Degree+
24.9%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
2035.4
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
276.6
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
1758.8
per 100,000 residents

Reflects incidents reported to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program — agency participation is voluntary and reporting completeness varies by jurisdiction and year, so this reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score. Not adjusted for tourism, commuter, or daytime population.

Schools

Total Schools
51
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
169,000 residents170,000 residents171,000 residents172,000 residents173,000 residents 202020212022202320242025 171,861 residents 170,455 residents ▼ -0.8%
Garden Grove's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

📉 Construction Slowdown
Total Permits (2024)
108
housing units authorized
Single-Family
108
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
0.6
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 577
2020 237
2021 274
2022 283
2023 192
2024 108

Permit volume decreased 81% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Average Commute Time
25.9 minutes
Drive Alone
73.9%
Carpool
11.9%
Public Transit
1.3%
Walk
1.0%
Work from Home
10.1%
Other
1.8%

Based on 81,648 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for California - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$150
avg/month
Natural Gas
$55
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$70
avg/month
Total Utilities
$275
estimated/month

Estimates reflect California state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a California state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Garden Grove sits in

Cost of Living Index
110.7
Well Above Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$3,236/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
99.8 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in California

Lancaster
170,013 people
Oceanside
172,542 people
Rancho Cucamonga
174,693 people
Palmdale
165,487 people
Santa Rosa
177,216 people
Elk Grove
177,221 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Garden Grove's 170,603 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Pembroke Pines, FL
170,557 people
Fort Collins, CO
169,705 people
Springfield, MO
169,432 people
Clarksville, TN
171,897 people
Bayamón zona urbana, PR
167,312 people
Salem, OR
176,666 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Garden Grove's $90,166 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Alabaster, AL
$90,163 median income
Rio Rancho Estates, NM
$90,172 median income
Eatontown, NJ
$90,174 median income
Denver, IA
$90,156 median income
Manchester, OK
$90,156 median income
Kitsap Lake, WA
$90,156 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Garden Grove, CA Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Garden Grove, CA - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 28.4% 41.6% 14.3% 13.2% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 37.6% White 28.4% Black or African American 1.3% Asian 41.6% American Indian 0.8% Native Hawaiian 0.3% Some other race 14.3% Two or more races 13.2% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Garden Grove compares to nearby California cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Garden Grove (this city) 170,603 $90,166
Lancaster 170,013 $76,083
Oceanside 172,542 $93,724
Rancho Cucamonga 174,693 $109,511
Census ACS 5-year FIPS CA FBI UCR NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Garden Grove, CA?

What is the population of Garden Grove, CA? +

Garden Grove, CA has a population of 170,603 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Garden Grove, CA? +

The median household income in Garden Grove is $90,166 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Garden Grove? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Garden Grove; the closest available measure is the California state average, a cost of living index of 110.7 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Well Above Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within California vary by metro area.

Is Garden Grove, CA safe? +

Garden Grove has a total crime rate of 2035.4 per 100,000 residents, which is near the national average. This reflects incidents reported to the FBI UCR program, not a definitive safety score -- agency reporting is voluntary and completeness varies by jurisdiction.

What is the median home value in Garden Grove, CA? +

A typical home in Garden Grove is worth $765,500, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities

Verify with HUD →

Verify with FBI →

Verify with NOAA →

Verify with U.S. Census Bureau →

Verify with EPA →

Verify with FEMA →

Verify with BEA →

Verify with EIA →

Verify with NCES →

Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.