Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Carlsbad, CA
VS
Gilbert, AZ
🏆 Gilbert leads 16 of 21 categories
Carlsbad
California
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$134,139 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
52
Population
114,745
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.
Carlsbad, CA
Pros
Violent crime is well below the national average (199.1 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $18,960 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 74°F vs 104°F
More college-educated — 59.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,070,500
Higher rents — median is $2,477/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.5)
Higher unemployment (6.0% vs 3.5%)
Gilbert, AZ
Pros
Homes cost $616k less ($454,300 vs $1,070,500)
34% less violent crime than Carlsbad
Rent averages $638/mo less ($1,839 vs $2,477)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.5 pts lower (3.5%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (132.2 vs 380/100k)
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Carlsbad
Cons
Median income trails Carlsbad by $18,960/yr
Hot summers — July highs average 104°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Carlsbad
Median Income
$18,960
$134,139 vs $115,179/yr
Gilbert
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 102.5 vs 111.5 (100 = US avg)
Gilbert
Violent Crime
34% lower
132.2 vs 199.1 per 100k
Gilbert
Median Home Value
$616k less
$454,300 vs $1,070,500
Gilbert
Unemployment
2.5 pp lower
3.5% vs 6.0% unemployment
Gilbert
Summer Heat
30.0°F warmer
July avg high 104.2°F vs 74.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Carlsbad, CA | Gilbert, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.5⚠ High | 102.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $1,070,500⚠ High | $454,300⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,477⚠ High | $1,839⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $134,139 ✓ Higher | $115,179 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.0%⚠ High | 3.5% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.5 min⚠ High | 26.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 24.8% ✓ Higher | 20.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 60 | 39 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 52 | 35 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 | 46 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) | A- (110) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.7:1 | 16.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 59.5% ✓ Higher | 47.1% |
| High School or Higher | 95.1% | 96.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Carlsbad Unified | Gilbert Unified District (4239) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.0°F | 65.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 74.2°F | 104.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.4" | 8.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,745 | 267,267 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 42.4 ✓ Older | 35.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.2% | 74.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.8% | 29.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.8% ✓ More | 10.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Carlsbad's cost of living index is 111.5 vs Gilbert's 102.5 (US average = 100).
Gilbert is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Gilbert leads 16 of 21 categories. Carlsbad wins 5 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 Carlsbad to Gilbert or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($1,070,500 vs $454,300 median home), income ($134,139 vs $115,179), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Carlsbad, CA and Gilbert, AZ are about 320 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.