Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Gilbert, AZ
VS
Highlands Ranch, CO
🏆 Gilbert leads 13 of 23 categories
Gilbert
Arizona
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$115,179
Violent Crime Index
35 ✓ Safer
Population
267,267 ✓ Larger
Highlands Ranch
Colorado
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$148,227 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
36
Population
101,514
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Gilbert, AZ
Pros
Homes cost $183k less ($454,300 vs $637,400)
Rent averages $514/mo less ($1,839 vs $2,353)
Violent crime is well below the national average (132.2 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 45°F
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Highlands Ranch
Cons
Median income trails Highlands Ranch by $33,048/yr
Hot summers — July highs average 104°F
Highlands Ranch, CO
Pros
Households earn $33,048 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (138.1 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 65.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 104°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $637,400
Higher rents — median is $2,353/mo
Snowy winters — about 64" of snow per year
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Gilbert
Key Differences at a Glance
Gilbert
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 102.5 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Gilbert
Median Home Value
$183k less
$454,300 vs $637,400
Gilbert
Summer Heat
16.9°F warmer
July avg high 104.2°F vs 87.3°F
Highlands Ranch
Median Income
$33,048
$148,227 vs $115,179/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Gilbert, AZ | Highlands Ranch, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 105.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $454,300⚠ High ✓ Lower | $637,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,839⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,353⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $115,179 | $148,227 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.5% | 3.4% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.7 min | 25.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 20.5% | 26.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 39 ✓ Safer | 48 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 35 ✓ Safer | 36 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 46 ✓ Safer | 65 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) | A- (114) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 47.1% | 65.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 96.3% | 98.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Gilbert Unified District (4239) | Douglas County School District No. Re 1 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.6°F ✓ Warmer | 44.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 104.2°F ✓ Warmer | 87.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.8" ✓ Drier | 18.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 64.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 267,267 ✓ Larger | 101,514 |
| Median Age | 35.4 | 41.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 74.7% | 79.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 29.4% ✓ More | 24.9% |
| Over 65 | 10.2% | 13.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Gilbert's cost of living index is 102.5 vs Highlands Ranch's 105.5 (US average = 100).
Gilbert is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Gilbert leads 13 of 23 categories. Gilbert wins 13 and Highlands Ranch wins 10. 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 Highlands Ranch or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($454,300 vs $637,400 median home), income ($115,179 vs $148,227), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Gilbert, AZ and Highlands Ranch, CO are about 572 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.