Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Arlington, VA
VS
Gilbert, AZ
🏆 Gilbert leads 16 of 23 categories
Arlington
Virginia
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$137,387 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
67
Population
235,845
Gilbert
Arizona
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$115,179
Violent Crime Index
35 ✓ Safer
Population
267,267 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Arlington, VA
Pros
More college-educated — 76.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (254.4 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $22,208 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (2.8%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 90°F vs 104°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $833,300
Higher rents — median is $2,227/mo
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Gilbert
Gilbert, AZ
Pros
Homes cost $379k less ($454,300 vs $833,300)
48% less violent crime than Arlington
Violent crime is well below the national average (132.2 vs 380/100k)
Rent averages $388/mo less ($1,839 vs $2,227)
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 45°F
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Arlington
Cons
Median income trails Arlington by $22,208/yr
Hot summers — July highs average 104°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Arlington
Median Income
$22,208
$137,387 vs $115,179/yr
Arlington
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
2.8% vs 3.5% unemployment
Gilbert
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 102.5 vs 108.6 (100 = US avg)
Gilbert
Violent Crime
48% lower
132.2 vs 254.4 per 100k
Gilbert
Median Home Value
$379k less
$454,300 vs $833,300
Gilbert
Summer Heat
14.6°F warmer
July avg high 104.2°F vs 89.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Arlington, VA | Gilbert, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.6⚠ High | 102.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $833,300⚠ High | $454,300⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,227⚠ High | $1,839⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $137,387 ✓ Higher | $115,179 |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.8% ✓ Lower | 3.5% |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.7 min⚠ High | 26.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 27.0% ✓ Higher | 20.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 73 | 39 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 67 | 35 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 83 | 46 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (121) ✓ Better | A- (110) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 76.8% ✓ Higher | 47.1% |
| High School or Higher | 95.3% | 96.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Arlington County Public Schools | Gilbert Unified District (4239) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.8°F | 65.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.6°F | 104.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.2" | 8.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 13.7" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 235,845 | 267,267 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.3 | 35.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.2% | 74.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.1% | 29.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.3% ✓ More | 10.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Arlington's cost of living index is 108.6 vs Gilbert's 102.5 (US average = 100).
Gilbert is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Gilbert leads 16 of 23 categories. Arlington wins 7 and Gilbert wins 16. 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 Arlington to Gilbert or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($833,300 vs $454,300 median home), income ($137,387 vs $115,179), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Arlington, VA and Gilbert, AZ are about 1,960 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.