Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Gilbert, AZ
VS
Glendale, CA
🏆 Gilbert leads 19 of 22 categories
Gilbert
Arizona
19
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$115,179 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
35 ✓ Safer
Population
267,267 ✓ Larger
Glendale
California
3
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$81,219
Violent Crime Index
76
Population
194,512
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Gilbert, AZ
Pros
Homes cost $538k less ($454,300 vs $992,000)
54% less violent crime than Glendale
Households earn $33,960 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.6 pts lower (3.5%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (132.2 vs 380/100k)
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Glendale
Cons
Hot summers — July highs average 104°F
Glendale, CA
Pros
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 104°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $992,000
Median income trails Gilbert by $33,960/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Gilbert
Key Differences at a Glance
Gilbert
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 102.5 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Gilbert
Median Income
$33,960
$115,179 vs $81,219/yr
Gilbert
Violent Crime
54% lower
132.2 vs 287.2 per 100k
Gilbert
Median Home Value
$538k less
$454,300 vs $992,000
Gilbert
Unemployment
4.6 pp lower
3.5% vs 8.1% unemployment
Gilbert
Summer Heat
18.4°F warmer
July avg high 104.2°F vs 85.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Gilbert, AZ | Glendale, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $454,300⚠ High ✓ Lower | $992,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,839⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,002⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $115,179 ✓ Higher | $81,219 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.5% ✓ Lower | 8.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.7 min ✓ Shorter | 27.6 min |
| Work From Home % | 20.5% ✓ Higher | 16.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 39 ✓ Safer | 84 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 35 ✓ Safer | 76 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 46 ✓ Safer | 97 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | B (99) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 47.1% ✓ Higher | 43.8% |
| High School or Higher | 96.3% ✓ Higher | 88.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Gilbert Unified District (4239) | Glendale Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.6°F | 69.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 104.2°F ✓ Warmer | 85.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.8" ✓ Drier | 16.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 267,267 ✓ Larger | 194,512 |
| Median Age | 35.4 | 41.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 74.7% ✓ Higher | 34.2% |
| Under 18 | 29.4% ✓ More | 18.0% |
| Over 65 | 10.2% | 18.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Gilbert's cost of living index is 102.5 vs Glendale's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Gilbert is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Gilbert leads 19 of 22 categories. Gilbert wins 19 and Glendale wins 3. 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 Gilbert to Glendale or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($454,300 vs $992,000 median home), income ($115,179 vs $81,219), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Gilbert, AZ and Glendale, CA are about 378 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.