BestCityFor

Best city for retirement? Garden Grove, CA

D
Score
38/100
Rank #175 (top 200 cities)
Data: ACS 2023 (5-year)

Garden Grove can still work for retirement if you’re leaning into median household income and typical rent (2br). Overall, it’s a more specialized pick in this set (#175 of 200). The main watch-out is commute 45+ min share.

Methodology · Sources · CA rankings

Scope note (city proper)

This page scores the incorporated city limits (Census “Place”), not the metro area. Popular retirement destinations can look very different at the metro level.

Why Garden Grove ranks here

  • Median household income: $90,166 (19% higher than the national median; better for this metric).
  • Typical rent (2BR): $1,997/mo (39% higher than the national median; worse for this metric).
  • Age 65+ share: 15% (8% higher than the national median; better for this metric).

Watch-outs

  • Commute 45+ min share: 17% (53% higher than the national median; worse for this metric).
  • Typical home value: $765,500 (120% higher than the national median; worse for this metric).

City snapshot

Basic demographics from ACS 2023 (city proper).

Population
170,603
Estimated total population (ACS).
Male vs female
Male 50%Female 50%

Key metrics

Values shown are from ACS 2023. National medians are computed across the ranked city set.

Typical rent (2BR)
$1,997/mo
National median: $1,441/mo
Typical home value
$765,500
National median: $347,900
Age 65+ share
15%
National median: 14%
Median age
40
National median: —
Median household income
$90,166
National median: $75,598
Broadband subscription
92%
National median: 91%

Score breakdown (by category)

Category scores are 0–100 and summarize groups of metrics used in the final score.

City
National median (dataset)
Affordability
Typical 2BR rent and typical home value.
24/100
Retiree Signals
Age mix and income as broad service proxies.
36/100
Connectivity
Broadband access for everyday logistics.
92/100
Comfort
Climate comfort and commute friction.
83/100

Education (age 25+)

Share of adults by attainment (ACS).

25%
Less than HS
50%
HS / Some college
19%
Bachelor’s
6%
Advanced

Age mix

Share of residents age 65+ (ACS).

15%
Age 65+
85%
Under 65

Internet access

Household broadband subscription (ACS).

92%
Broadband
8%
No broadband

Map

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Scorecard breakdown

Bars are rescaled to 0–100 for readability (percentage metrics use their actual percent).

City
National median (dataset)
Typical rent (2BR)
National median $1,441/mo
$1,997/mo
Typical home value
National median $347,900
$765,500
Age 65+ share
National median 14%
15%
Median household income
National median $75,598
$90,166
Broadband subscription
National median 91%
92%
Commute 45+ min share
National median 11%
17%

Similar cities (by score)

#173 Salinas, CA
39/100
#174 New York, NY
38/100
#176 Torrance, CA
38/100
#177 Orange, CA
37/100

FAQ

›What is Garden Grove’s retirement score and rank?
Garden Grove, CA scores D (38/100) and ranks #175 out of the top 200 US cities in this dataset.
›Is this based on Garden Grove city proper or the metro area?
City proper (incorporated place). This uses Census ‘Place’ boundaries, not the metro area. Metro-level retirement patterns can differ a lot from the city itself.
›What is the population of Garden Grove, CA?
Population is about 170,603 (ACS 2023, city proper).
›What is the male vs female split in Garden Grove, CA?
About 50% male and 50% female (ACS 2023).
›How affordable is housing in Garden Grove, CA?
Typical rent (2BR) is $1,997/mo (national median: $1,441/mo). Typical home value is $765,500 (national median: $347,900).
›What share of residents are 65+ in Garden Grove, CA?
Age 65+ share is 15% (national median: 14%).
›How common is broadband internet in Garden Grove, CA?
Broadband subscription is 92% of households (national median: 91%).
›What does the education mix look like in Garden Grove, CA?
Among adults 25+, the shares are roughly: less than HS 25%, HS/some college 50%, bachelor’s 19%, advanced 6%.
›Where does this data come from for Garden Grove, CA?
Metrics are from Census ACS 2023 5-year estimates (city proper / incorporated place), with optional NOAA climate normals when available.

Note: Scores are informational and depend on data coverage and methodology. Always validate against your personal constraints (healthcare access, neighborhoods, taxes, climate preferences, support network).