Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Austin, TX
VS
Gilbert, AZ
🏆 Gilbert leads 15 of 23 categories
Austin
Texas
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$86,556
Violent Crime Index
123⚠ High
Population
958,202 ✓ 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.
Austin, TX
Pros
Rent averages $290/mo less ($1,549 vs $1,839)
More college-educated — 56.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 97°F vs 104°F
Smaller class sizes — 14.0:1 student-teacher ratio
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Gilbert
Cons
Violent crime (466.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Gilbert by $28,623/yr
Property crime (3241.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (4.4% vs 3.5%)
Gilbert, AZ
Pros
72% less violent crime than Austin
Households earn $28,623 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (132.2 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (3.5%)
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,839/mo
Hot summers — July highs average 104°F
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Austin
Key Differences at a Glance
Austin
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 97.6 vs 102.5 (100 = US avg)
Gilbert
Median Income
$28,623
$115,179 vs $86,556/yr
Gilbert
Violent Crime
72% lower
132.2 vs 466.9 per 100k
Gilbert
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
3.5% vs 4.4% unemployment
Gilbert
Summer Heat
7.6°F warmer
July avg high 104.2°F vs 96.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Austin, TX | Gilbert, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.6 ✓ Cheaper | 102.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $461,500⚠ High | $454,300⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,549⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,839⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $86,556 | $115,179 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4%⚠ High | 3.5% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.1 min ✓ Shorter | 26.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 22.9% ✓ Higher | 20.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 135⚠ High | 39 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 123⚠ High | 35 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 154⚠ High | 46 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A+ (133) ✓ Better | A- (110) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 56.5% ✓ Higher | 47.1% |
| High School or Higher | 91.1% | 96.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | AUSTIN ISD | Gilbert Unified District (4239) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 62.5°F | 65.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 96.6°F | 104.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.2" | 8.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 958,202 ✓ Larger | 267,267 |
| Median Age | 34.2 | 35.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.4% | 74.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.7% | 29.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 9.8% | 10.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Austin's cost of living index is 97.6 vs Gilbert's 102.5 (US average = 100).
Austin is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Gilbert leads 15 of 23 categories. Austin 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 Austin to Gilbert or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($461,500 vs $454,300 median home), income ($86,556 vs $115,179), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Austin, TX and Gilbert, AZ are about 847 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.