Head-to-Head · City Comparison
El Paso, TX
VS
Gilbert, AZ
🏆 Gilbert leads 16 of 23 categories
El Paso
Texas
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.2 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$55,710
Violent Crime Index
73
Population
677,181 ✓ Larger
Gilbert
Arizona
16
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.
El Paso, TX
Pros
Homes cost $295k less ($159,300 vs $454,300)
Rent averages $863/mo less ($976 vs $1,839)
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Gilbert
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.2)
Cooler summers — July highs near 96°F vs 104°F
Cons
Median income trails Gilbert by $59,469/yr
Higher unemployment (6.8% vs 3.5%)
Gilbert, AZ
Pros
Households earn $59,469 more per year on average
53% less violent crime than El Paso
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.3 pts lower (3.5%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (132.2 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 47.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 59°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $454,300
Higher rents — median is $1,839/mo
Cost of living runs 12% higher than El Paso
Hot summers — July highs average 104°F
Key Differences at a Glance
El Paso
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 90.2 vs 102.5 (100 = US avg)
El Paso
Median Home Value
$295k less
$159,300 vs $454,300
Gilbert
Median Income
$59,469
$115,179 vs $55,710/yr
Gilbert
Violent Crime
53% lower
132.2 vs 278.4 per 100k
Gilbert
Unemployment
3.3 pp lower
3.5% vs 6.8% unemployment
Gilbert
Summer Heat
8.4°F warmer
July avg high 104.2°F vs 95.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | El Paso, TX | Gilbert, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.2 ✓ Cheaper | 102.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $159,300 ✓ Lower | $454,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $976 ✓ Lower | $1,839⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $55,710 | $115,179 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.8%⚠ High | 3.5% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.7 min ✓ Shorter | 26.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.7% | 20.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 72 | 39 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 73 | 35 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 71 | 46 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) | A- (110) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.1% | 47.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.5% | 96.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | EL PASO ISD | Gilbert Unified District (4239) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.6°F | 65.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 95.8°F | 104.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.3" | 8.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.8" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 677,181 ✓ Larger | 267,267 |
| Median Age | 33.7 | 35.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.5% | 74.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 25.4% | 29.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.5% ✓ More | 10.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
El Paso's cost of living index is 90.2 vs Gilbert's 102.5 (US average = 100).
El Paso is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Gilbert leads 16 of 23 categories. El Paso 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 El Paso to Gilbert or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($159,300 vs $454,300 median home), income ($55,710 vs $115,179), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
El Paso, TX and Gilbert, AZ are about 325 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.