Grand Prairie vs Garden Grove: Cost of Living Comparison
How does the cost of living in Grand Prairie, Texas compare to Garden Grove, California? Below is a side-by-side breakdown of housing costs, income, wages, and taxes using official government data.
Summary: Grand Prairie is the more affordable city overall. Housing costs are 65% lower in Grand Prairie compared to Garden Grove, while rent is 27% lower. TX has no state income tax.
| Metric | Grand Prairie, TX | Garden Grove, CA | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing | |||
| Median Home Value | $242,900 | $702,600 | -65.4% |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,381 | $1,887 | -26.8% |
| Income | |||
| Median Household Income | $76,626 | $86,139 | -11.0% |
| Per Capita Income | $32,444 | $31,132 | +4.2% |
| Taxes | |||
| State Income Tax Rate | None | 13.3% | -100.0% |
| Combined Sales Tax | 8.2% | 8.7% | -5.5% |
| Demographics | |||
| Population | 197,279 | 171,637 | +14.9% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2022), Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey. State/local tax rates from Tax Foundation (2024).
Rent vs. Buy Calculator — Grand Prairie
Default home price from Census ACS median. Mortgage rate: 6.38% (Freddie Mac PMMS, March 2026). Property tax est. 1.1%, insurance est. 0.35% of home value annually.
Rent vs. Buy Calculator — Garden Grove
Default home price from Census ACS median. Mortgage rate: 6.38% (Freddie Mac PMMS, March 2026). Property tax est. 1.1%, insurance est. 0.35% of home value annually.
Key Takeaways
- Housing: The median home in Grand Prairie costs $242,900 compared to $702,600 in Garden Grove — a 65% discount.
- Rent: Median rent is $1,381/mo in Grand Prairie vs $1,887/mo in Garden Grove.
- Income: Median household income is $76,626 in Grand Prairie and $86,139 in Garden Grove.
- Taxes: Texas has no state income tax, while California has a 13.3% rate.
Methodology
This comparison uses data from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates (2022) for median household income, median home value, median gross rent, per capita income, and population. State and local tax rates are sourced from the Tax Foundation. Mortgage rates are from the Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (updated weekly).