Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Albuquerque, NM
VS
Gilbert, AZ
🏆 Gilbert leads 15 of 23 categories
Albuquerque
New Mexico
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$61,503
Violent Crime Index
311⚠ High
Population
562,551 ✓ Larger
Gilbert
Arizona
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$115,179 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
35 ✓ Safer
Population
267,267
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Albuquerque, NM
Pros
Homes cost $208k less ($246,000 vs $454,300)
Rent averages $825/mo less ($1,014 vs $1,839)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Gilbert
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.0)
Cooler summers — July highs near 95°F vs 104°F
Cons
Median income trails Gilbert by $53,676/yr
Violent crime (1181.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4628.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.5% vs 3.5%)
Gilbert, AZ
Pros
Households earn $53,676 more per year on average
89% less violent crime than Albuquerque
Violent crime is well below the national average (132.2 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.0 pts lower (3.5%)
More college-educated — 47.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 52°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $454,300
Higher rents — median is $1,839/mo
Cost of living runs 10% higher than Albuquerque
Hot summers — July highs average 104°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Albuquerque
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 93.0 vs 102.5 (100 = US avg)
Albuquerque
Median Home Value
$208k less
$246,000 vs $454,300
Gilbert
Median Income
$53,676
$115,179 vs $61,503/yr
Gilbert
Violent Crime
89% lower
132.2 vs 1181.8 per 100k
Gilbert
Unemployment
2.0 pp lower
3.5% vs 5.5% unemployment
Gilbert
Summer Heat
9.3°F warmer
July avg high 104.2°F vs 94.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Albuquerque, NM | Gilbert, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.0 ✓ Cheaper | 102.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $246,000 ✓ Lower | $454,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,014 ✓ Lower | $1,839⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $61,503 | $115,179 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High | 3.5% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.1 min ✓ Shorter | 26.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 11.0% | 20.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 275⚠ High | 39 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 311⚠ High | 35 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 220⚠ High | 46 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) | A- (110) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.8% | 47.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.7% | 96.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ALBUQUERQUE | Gilbert Unified District (4239) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.9°F | 65.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 94.9°F | 104.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.3" | 8.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 7.9" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 562,551 ✓ Larger | 267,267 |
| Median Age | 38.0 ✓ Older | 35.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.7% | 74.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.0% | 29.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.6% ✓ More | 10.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Albuquerque's cost of living index is 93.0 vs Gilbert's 102.5 (US average = 100).
Albuquerque is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Gilbert leads 15 of 23 categories. Albuquerque wins 8 and Gilbert wins 15. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Albuquerque to Gilbert or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($246,000 vs $454,300 median home), income ($61,503 vs $115,179), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Albuquerque, NM and Gilbert, AZ are about 316 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.