Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Gilbert, AZ
VS
Indio, CA
🏆 Gilbert leads 14 of 22 categories
Gilbert
Arizona
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$115,179 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
35 ✓ Safer
Population
267,267 ✓ Larger
Indio
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$68,436
Violent Crime Index
88
Population
89,616
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Gilbert, AZ
Pros
Households earn $46,743 more per year on average
61% less violent crime than Indio
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.8 pts lower (3.5%)
More college-educated — 47.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (132.2 vs 380/100k)
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Indio
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,839/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $454,300
Hot summers — July highs average 104°F
Indio, CA
Pros
Rent averages $495/mo less ($1,344 vs $1,839)
Homes cost $81k less ($373,200 vs $454,300)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Gilbert by $46,743/yr
Higher unemployment (7.3% vs 3.5%)
Hot summers — July highs average 106°F
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Gilbert
Key Differences at a Glance
Gilbert
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 102.5 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Gilbert
Median Income
$46,743
$115,179 vs $68,436/yr
Gilbert
Violent Crime
61% lower
132.2 vs 336.2 per 100k
Gilbert
Unemployment
3.8 pp lower
3.5% vs 7.3% unemployment
Indio
Median Home Value
$81k less
$373,200 vs $454,300
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Gilbert, AZ | Indio, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 107.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $454,300⚠ High | $373,200⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,839⚠ High | $1,344⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $115,179 ✓ Higher | $68,436 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.5% ✓ Lower | 7.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.7 min | 23.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 20.5% ✓ Higher | 4.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 39 ✓ Safer | 85 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 35 ✓ Safer | 88 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 46 ✓ Safer | 79 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | C (82) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 47.1% ✓ Higher | 19.4% |
| High School or Higher | 96.3% ✓ Higher | 77.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Gilbert Unified District (4239) | Desert Sands Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.6°F | 70.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 104.2°F | 105.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.8" | 2.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 267,267 ✓ Larger | 89,616 |
| Median Age | 35.4 | 39.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 74.7% ✓ Higher | 69.3% |
| Under 18 | 29.4% ✓ More | 22.8% |
| Over 65 | 10.2% | 19.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Gilbert's cost of living index is 102.5 vs Indio's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Gilbert is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Gilbert leads 14 of 22 categories. Gilbert wins 14 and Indio wins 8. 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 Indio or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($454,300 vs $373,200 median home), income ($115,179 vs $68,436), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Gilbert, AZ and Indio, CA are about 260 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.