Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Berkeley, CA
VS
Gilbert, AZ
🏆 Gilbert leads 18 of 21 categories
Berkeley
California
3
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$104,716
Violent Crime Index
168⚠ High
Population
121,385
Gilbert
Arizona
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$115,179 ✓ Higher
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.
Berkeley, CA
Pros
More college-educated — 73.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 74°F vs 104°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,280,300
Violent crime (638.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 118.2)
Cost of living runs 16% higher than Gilbert
Gilbert, AZ
Pros
Homes cost $826k less ($454,300 vs $1,280,300)
79% less violent crime than Berkeley
Violent crime is well below the national average (132.2 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.0 pts lower (3.5%)
16% cheaper overall cost of living than Berkeley
Rent averages $228/mo less ($1,839 vs $2,067)
Cons
Hot summers — July highs average 104°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Gilbert
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 102.5 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Gilbert
Median Income
$10,463
$115,179 vs $104,716/yr
Gilbert
Violent Crime
79% lower
132.2 vs 638.8 per 100k
Gilbert
Median Home Value
$826k less
$454,300 vs $1,280,300
Gilbert
Unemployment
2.0 pp lower
3.5% vs 5.5% unemployment
Gilbert
Summer Heat
30.0°F warmer
July avg high 104.2°F vs 74.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Berkeley, CA | Gilbert, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 118.2⚠ High | 102.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $1,280,300⚠ High | $454,300⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,067⚠ High | $1,839⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $104,716 | $115,179 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High | 3.5% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.4 min⚠ High | 26.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 28.1% ✓ Higher | 20.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 200⚠ High | 39 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 168⚠ High | 35 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 249⚠ High | 46 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) | A- (110) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.1:1 | 16.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 73.8% ✓ Higher | 47.1% |
| High School or Higher | 96.1% | 96.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Berkeley Unified | Gilbert Unified District (4239) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.9°F | 65.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 74.2°F | 104.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 26.1" | 8.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 121,385 | 267,267 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.5 | 35.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 43.3% | 74.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 12.2% | 29.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.9% ✓ More | 10.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Berkeley's cost of living index is 118.2 vs Gilbert's 102.5 (US average = 100).
Gilbert is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Gilbert leads 18 of 21 categories. Berkeley wins 3 and Gilbert wins 18. 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 Berkeley to Gilbert or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($1,280,300 vs $454,300 median home), income ($104,716 vs $115,179), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Berkeley, CA and Gilbert, AZ are about 671 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.