Garden Grove Home Prices: $991K, Up 1% — 5 ZIPs Analyzed (2026)
$991K. That’s what a typical home costs in Garden Grove, California — and the number is still climbing.
The median home value in Garden Grove hit $990,759 in February 2026, up 1.0% from a year ago. It’s not a dramatic spike, but after a mid-2025 dip, the recovery is real. Across five ZIP codes, prices range from $926K to over $1.1 million.
Quick answer: The average home price in Garden Grove, CA is $990,759 as of February 2026, up 1.0% year over year according to Zillow.
Current Home Prices in Garden Grove
Here’s where Garden Grove stands right now:
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $990,759 |
| Year-over-Year Change | +1.0% |
| Lowest ZIP Median | $926,030 |
| Highest ZIP Median | $1,102,331 |
| Number of ZIPs Tracked | 5 |
| Data Through | February 2026 |
A 1% annual gain sounds modest, but context matters. Garden Grove sits inside the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim metro, where nearly every market is stretched. A million-dollar median puts the city in line with broader Orange County pricing.
The price floor is $926,030 in the 92844 ZIP code. The ceiling is $1,102,331 in 92845. That’s a $176,000 gap — meaningful for buyers trying to stay under seven figures.
One thing to watch: prices bottomed out in September 2025 at $964,150 and have risen every month since. The February figure is the highest in the 12-month window. Whether that momentum holds through spring buying season will determine the full-year number.
Garden Grove Home Prices by Neighborhood
All five Garden Grove ZIP codes land between $926K and $1.1 million. Here’s the full breakdown:
| ZIP Code | Median Home Value | vs. City Average | Rent (ZORI) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 92845 | $1,102,331 | +11.3% | Data not available |
| 92841 | $1,009,020 | +1.8% | $2,380/mo |
| 92840 | $962,601 | -2.8% | $2,355/mo |
| 92843 | $953,812 | -3.7% | Data not available |
| 92844 | $926,030 | -6.5% | $3,081/mo |
Most Expensive ZIPs
92845 leads at $1,102,331 — the only Garden Grove ZIP above a million dollars, sitting 11.3% above the city average with no rent data available for comparison.
92841 comes in at $1,009,020, just barely above the million-dollar mark, with rents at $2,380 per month.
92840 rounds out the upper tier at $962,601, close to the city average with rents tracking at $2,355 per month.
Most Affordable ZIPs
92844 is the cheapest entry point at $926,030, a full 6.5% below the city average. Interestingly, it carries the highest rent in the dataset at $3,081 per month — a mismatch worth investigating for investors.
92843 comes in at $953,812, about 3.7% below average, though no rent data is available for this ZIP.
92840 at $962,601 offers a slight discount and the lowest tracked rent at $2,355 per month.
Rent vs Buy in Garden Grove
Rent data is available for three of Garden Grove’s five ZIP codes, and the numbers tell a clear story: renting is far cheaper on a monthly basis.
| ZIP Code | Monthly Rent (ZORI) | Est. Mortgage Payment* |
|---|---|---|
| 92840 | $2,355 | ~$5,100 |
| 92841 | $2,380 | ~$5,340 |
| 92844 | $3,081 | ~$4,900 |
Estimated mortgage based on 20% down, 7% rate, 30-year fixed. Does not include taxes, insurance, or HOA.
In 92840 and 92841, the mortgage payment roughly doubles the rent. You’d pay $2,700 to $2,960 more per month to own. Over a year, that’s an extra $32,000 to $35,000 out of pocket before you factor in property taxes, insurance, and maintenance.
The 92844 ZIP is unusual. Rent there runs $3,081 — the highest in the city — while home prices are the lowest. The rent-to-price ratio in that ZIP is tighter, which could signal strong rental demand or limited rental supply.
For buyers, the math only works if you expect appreciation to outpace the cost premium of ownership. At 1% annual growth, you’d gain roughly $10,000 in equity per year on the median home. That doesn’t cover the monthly cost gap.
Population Growth and Migration
Garden Grove’s population barely moved over four years. The city had 172,361 residents in 2024, up just 0.3% from 171,866 in 2020.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 171,866 |
| 2021 | 170,644 |
| 2022 | 169,865 |
| 2023 | 170,138 |
| 2024 | 172,361 |
The pattern is a shallow dip and recovery. Garden Grove lost about 2,000 residents between 2020 and 2022, then gained them back by 2024. Net result: near-zero growth.
Compare that to other California cities:
| City | 2024 Population | 4-Year Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Bakersfield | 417,468 | +3.0% |
| Sacramento | 535,798 | +1.9% |
| San Diego | 1,404,452 | +1.4% |
| Fresno | 550,105 | +1.4% |
| Oakland | 443,554 | +0.6% |
| Garden Grove | 172,361 | +0.3% |
Garden Grove is growing slower than every city on this list. Bakersfield added residents ten times faster. Even Oakland — which lost significant population post-pandemic — outpaced Garden Grove.
For housing demand, flat population growth means price increases are driven more by limited supply and regional spillover than by new residents flooding in. Garden Grove isn’t a boomtown. It’s a mature, built-out suburb where land is scarce and new construction is minimal.
Garden Grove Housing Market Trends
The 12-month price trend shows a clear U-shape: decline through mid-2025, then a steady climb into 2026.
| Month | Median Value | Month-over-Month |
|---|---|---|
| Feb 2026 | $990,759 | +0.6% |
| Jan 2026 | $985,119 | +0.7% |
| Dec 2025 | $978,298 | +0.7% |
| Nov 2025 | $971,212 | +0.5% |
| Oct 2025 | $966,205 | +0.2% |
| Sep 2025 | $964,150 | -0.1% |
| Aug 2025 | $965,154 | -0.3% |
| Jul 2025 | $967,975 | -0.3% |
| Jun 2025 | $971,316 | -0.4% |
| May 2025 | $975,479 | -0.4% |
| Apr 2025 | $979,425 | -0.2% |
| Mar 2025 | $981,264 | — |
Prices peaked in March 2025 at $981,264, slid 1.7% to a September low of $964,150, then rebounded. The five-month recovery from October through February has been consistent — gains of 0.2% to 0.7% each month, accelerating slightly.
The February 2026 figure of $990,759 is the highest in the entire 12-month window, surpassing the spring 2025 peak. That’s a sign the recovery has legs.
Is Garden Grove a Good Place to Buy in 2026?
The data paints a mixed picture.
On one hand, prices are rising and have done so for five straight months. The market has momentum. If you buy now and the trend continues, you’re getting in before further appreciation.
On the other hand, the math is tough. A $991K median with 20% down means a $793K mortgage. At 7%, that’s roughly $5,270 per month before taxes and insurance. Rents in the same neighborhoods run $2,355 to $3,081. The gap between owning and renting is wide.
Garden Grove favors buyers who plan to hold long-term — at least 7 to 10 years — and who value being in Orange County near Anaheim and the broader LA metro. For short-term holds or investment plays, the 1% annual appreciation doesn’t justify the carrying costs.
If you’re priced out of the median, the 92844 ZIP at $926K offers the cheapest entry point.
Garden Grove Housing Market Outlook for 2026-2027
The five-month uptrend from October 2025 through February 2026 suggests prices will continue rising through spring and summer 2026. If the current pace of 0.5% to 0.7% monthly gains holds, the median could approach or cross $1 million by mid-2026.
Seasonal patterns support this. Spring and early summer typically bring higher transaction volumes and prices in Southern California. The data already shows acceleration — month-over-month gains grew from 0.2% in October to 0.7% in January.
The risk is interest rates. If mortgage rates climb further, buyer demand could cool. The 2025 mid-year dip happened during a period of rate uncertainty, and a repeat isn’t impossible.
The most likely scenario: Garden Grove prices finish 2026 between $1.0 million and $1.02 million, with the pace slowing in late fall as it did in 2025.
Similar Markets in CA
If you’re exploring Orange County and nearby California markets, here are comparable cities worth checking:
- Anaheim — Garden Grove’s immediate neighbor to the north, sharing the same metro area and similar price dynamics.
- Long Beach — A coastal alternative in LA County with a different mix of housing stock.
- Los Angeles — The broader LA market for comparison, though prices and inventory vary wildly by neighborhood.
- Chula Vista — A San Diego suburb that may offer lower entry points for buyers willing to move south.
- Riverside — Inland Empire pricing tends to run well below Orange County, with a longer commute trade-off.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average home price in Garden Grove?
The average home price in Garden Grove is $990,759 as of February 2026. That figure represents the Zillow Home Value Index across five ZIP codes. Prices range from $926,030 in the 92844 ZIP to $1,102,331 in 92845.
Are home prices going up or down in Garden Grove?
Prices are going up. The median rose 1.0% year over year as of February 2026. After a mid-2025 dip that bottomed at $964,150 in September, prices have climbed for five consecutive months.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Garden Grove?
Renting is significantly cheaper on a monthly basis. Typical rents run $2,355 to $3,081 depending on ZIP code, while a mortgage on the median home would cost roughly $5,270 per month with 20% down at 7%. That’s a gap of $2,200 to $2,900 per month before taxes and insurance.
What is the most affordable neighborhood in Garden Grove?
ZIP code 92844 is the most affordable with a median home value of $926,030 — about $65,000 below the city average. Despite having the lowest home prices, this ZIP has the highest tracked rent at $3,081 per month.
Methodology
Home values are based on the Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI), a smoothed measure of typical home values in the 35th to 65th percentile range. Rent estimates use the Zillow Observed Rent Index (ZORI). Population figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (2020-2024 vintage). All datasets are publicly available. Housing data updated 2026-02-28.