Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fort Lauderdale, FL
VS
Gilbert, AZ
🏆 Gilbert leads 13 of 19 categories
Fort Lauderdale
Florida
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$75,376
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
182,673
Gilbert
Arizona
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$115,179 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
35
Population
267,267 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fort Lauderdale, FL
Pros
Rent averages $212/mo less ($1,627 vs $1,839)
Cooler summers — July highs near 91°F vs 104°F
Homes cost $37k less ($417,600 vs $454,300)
Milder winters — January highs near 77°F vs 66°F
Cons
Median income trails Gilbert by $39,803/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Higher unemployment (5.4% vs 3.5%)
Cost of living runs 9% higher than Gilbert
Gilbert, AZ
Pros
Households earn $39,803 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (132.2 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.9 pts lower (3.5%)
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Fort Lauderdale
More college-educated — 47.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 16.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,839/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $454,300
Hot summers — July highs average 104°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Fort Lauderdale
Median Home Value
$37k less
$417,600 vs $454,300
Gilbert
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 102.5 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
Gilbert
Median Income
$39,803
$115,179 vs $75,376/yr
Gilbert
Unemployment
1.9 pp lower
3.5% vs 5.4% unemployment
Gilbert
Summer Heat
13.7°F warmer
July avg high 104.2°F vs 90.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fort Lauderdale, FL | Gilbert, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.8⚠ High | 102.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $417,600⚠ High ✓ Lower | $454,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,627⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,839⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $75,376 | $115,179 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High | 3.5% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.3 min ✓ Shorter | 26.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 14.0% | 20.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | — | 39 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 35 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 46 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (98) | A- (110) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.7:1 | 16.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.3% | 47.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.6% | 96.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | BROWARD | Gilbert Unified District (4239) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 76.6°F ✓ Warmer | 65.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.5°F | 104.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 63.0" | 8.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 182,673 | 267,267 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 43.2 ✓ Older | 35.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.2% | 74.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.9% | 29.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 19.3% ✓ More | 10.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fort Lauderdale's cost of living index is 111.8 vs Gilbert's 102.5 (US average = 100).
Gilbert is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 19 decided categories above, Gilbert leads 13 of 19 categories. Fort Lauderdale wins 6 and Gilbert wins 13. 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 Fort Lauderdale to Gilbert or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($417,600 vs $454,300 median home), income ($75,376 vs $115,179), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fort Lauderdale, FL and Gilbert, AZ are about 1,951 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.