Garden Grove CA vs St. Petersburg FL — Cost of Living, Crime & Income Comparison 2026
Updated May 2026 · Source: US Census ACS 5-Year (2023), FBI CDE (2023), BLS OEWS (2024)
Garden Grove, CA
California · Population: 170,603
- Median HH Income$90,166
- Median Home Price$1,012,728
- Unemployment5.8%
- Bachelor's+24.9%
St. Petersburg, FL
Florida · Population: 260,646
- Median HH Income$73,118
- Median Home Price$331,500
- Unemployment4.9%
- Bachelor's+41.3%
Detailed Comparison
Demographics
Population
Garden Grove
170,603
St. Petersburg
260,646
St. Petersburg +
Pop. Density / sq mi
Lower = more space
Garden Grove
N/A
St. Petersburg
N/A
Median Age
Garden Grove
39.6
Garden Grove +
St. Petersburg
43.1
Foreign Born
Garden Grove
45.3%
Garden Grove +
St. Petersburg
10.1%
White
Garden Grove
28.4%
St. Petersburg
66.2%
St. Petersburg +
Black
Garden Grove
1.3%
St. Petersburg
19.4%
St. Petersburg +
Asian
Garden Grove
41.6%
Garden Grove +
St. Petersburg
3.1%
Hispanic
Garden Grove
37.6%
Garden Grove +
St. Petersburg
9.3%
Spanish at Home
Garden Grove
N/A
St. Petersburg
N/A
| Metric | Garden Grove, CA | St. Petersburg, FL | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 170,603 | 260,646 | St. Petersburg + |
| Pop. Density / sq miLower = more space | N/A | N/A | - |
| Median Age | 39.6 | 43.1 | Garden Grove + |
| Foreign Born | 45.3% | 10.1% | Garden Grove + |
| White | 28.4% | 66.2% | St. Petersburg + |
| Black | 1.3% | 19.4% | St. Petersburg + |
| Asian | 41.6% | 3.1% | Garden Grove + |
| Hispanic | 37.6% | 9.3% | Garden Grove + |
| Spanish at Home | N/A | N/A | - |
Economy
Median HH Income
Garden Grove
$90,166
Garden Grove +
St. Petersburg
$73,118
Per Capita Income
Garden Grove
$32,387
St. Petersburg
$49,823
St. Petersburg +
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)
BEA MSA-level
Garden Grove
$77,230
Garden Grove +
St. Petersburg
$65,328
Unemployment Rate
Garden Grove
5.8%
St. Petersburg
4.9%
St. Petersburg +
Poverty Rate
Garden Grove
12.2%
St. Petersburg
11.7%
St. Petersburg +
Bachelor's Degree+
Garden Grove
24.9%
St. Petersburg
41.3%
St. Petersburg +
| Metric | Garden Grove, CA | St. Petersburg, FL | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median HH Income | $90,166 | $73,118 | Garden Grove + |
| Per Capita Income | $32,387 | $49,823 | St. Petersburg + |
| Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)BEA MSA-level | $77,230 | $65,328 | Garden Grove + |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8% | 4.9% | St. Petersburg + |
| Poverty Rate | 12.2% | 11.7% | St. Petersburg + |
| Bachelor's Degree+ | 24.9% | 41.3% | St. Petersburg + |
Housing
Median Home Value
Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS
Garden Grove
$1,012,728
St. Petersburg
$331,500
St. Petersburg +
Homeownership Rate
Garden Grove
53.6%
St. Petersburg
63.0%
St. Petersburg +
| Metric | Garden Grove, CA | St. Petersburg, FL | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home ValueZillow ZHVI / Census ACS | $1,012,728 | $331,500 | St. Petersburg + |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.6% | 63.0% | St. Petersburg + |
Safety
Violent Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Garden Grove
503
St. Petersburg
324
St. Petersburg +
Property Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Garden Grove
2388
St. Petersburg
1453
St. Petersburg +
| Metric | Garden Grove, CA | St. Petersburg, FL | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.) | 503 | 324 | St. Petersburg + |
| Property Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.) | 2388 | 1453 | St. Petersburg + |
Health
Obesity Rate
CDC PLACES
Garden Grove
23.1%
Garden Grove +
St. Petersburg
32.7%
Diabetes Rate
CDC PLACES
Garden Grove
14.1%
St. Petersburg
12.2%
St. Petersburg +
Poor Mental Health
CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month
Garden Grove
16.7%
St. Petersburg
16.6%
St. Petersburg +
No Health Insurance
CDC PLACES
Garden Grove
12.4%
St. Petersburg
11.1%
St. Petersburg +
Binge Drinking
CDC PLACES
Garden Grove
12.9%
Garden Grove +
St. Petersburg
16.6%
Current Smokers
CDC PLACES
Garden Grove
11.4%
Garden Grove +
St. Petersburg
12.4%
| Metric | Garden Grove, CA | St. Petersburg, FL | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Obesity RateCDC PLACES | 23.1% | 32.7% | Garden Grove + |
| Diabetes RateCDC PLACES | 14.1% | 12.2% | St. Petersburg + |
| Poor Mental HealthCDC PLACES — 14+ days/month | 16.7% | 16.6% | St. Petersburg + |
| No Health InsuranceCDC PLACES | 12.4% | 11.1% | St. Petersburg + |
| Binge DrinkingCDC PLACES | 12.9% | 16.6% | Garden Grove + |
| Current SmokersCDC PLACES | 11.4% | 12.4% | Garden Grove + |
Climate
Avg Annual Temp
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Garden Grove
N/A
St. Petersburg
N/A
Annual Precipitation
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Garden Grove
N/A
St. Petersburg
N/A
| Metric | Garden Grove, CA | St. Petersburg, FL | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Annual TempNOAA 1991–2020 normal | N/A | N/A | - |
| Annual PrecipitationNOAA 1991–2020 normal | N/A | N/A | - |
Air Quality
PM2.5 Annual Avg
EPA AQS (state-level est.)
Garden Grove
7.9 µg/m³
St. Petersburg
7.2 µg/m³
St. Petersburg +
Good Air Days
AQI ≤ 50
Garden Grove
75.0%
St. Petersburg
75.0%
Tie
| Metric | Garden Grove, CA | St. Petersburg, FL | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| PM2.5 Annual AvgEPA AQS (state-level est.) | 7.9 µg/m³ | 7.2 µg/m³ | St. Petersburg + |
| Good Air DaysAQI ≤ 50 | 75.0% | 75.0% | Tie |
Commute
Mean Commute Time
Census ACS
Garden Grove
31.1 min
St. Petersburg
26.8 min
St. Petersburg +
| Metric | Garden Grove, CA | St. Petersburg, FL | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mean Commute TimeCensus ACS | 31.1 min | 26.8 min | St. Petersburg + |
Which City is Right for You?
Garden Grove leads in median household income at $90,166, while st. Petersburg offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $331,500. On public safety, St. Petersburg is safer with a violent crime rate of 324 per 100,000 residents, compared to 503 in Garden Grove. St. Petersburg has a lower unemployment rate at 4.9%, and St. Petersburg has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 7.2 µg/m³). For overall health outcomes, Garden Grove scores better with a lower obesity rate of 23.1%.
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