Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Gilbert, AZ
VS
Kansas City, MO
🏆 Gilbert leads 15 of 22 categories
Gilbert
Arizona
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$115,179 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
35 ✓ Safer
Population
267,267
Kansas City
Missouri
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$65,256
Violent Crime Index
407⚠ High
Population
505,958 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Gilbert, AZ
Pros
Households earn $49,923 more per year on average
91% less violent crime than Kansas City
Violent crime is well below the national average (132.2 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.3 pts lower (3.5%)
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 40°F
More college-educated — 47.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $454,300
Higher rents — median is $1,839/mo
Cost of living runs 9% higher than Kansas City
Hot summers — July highs average 104°F
Kansas City, MO
Pros
Homes cost $245k less ($208,900 vs $454,300)
Rent averages $708/mo less ($1,131 vs $1,839)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Gilbert
Cooler summers — July highs near 90°F vs 104°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.3)
Cons
Median income trails Gilbert by $49,923/yr
Violent crime (1547.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4676.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (4.8% vs 3.5%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Gilbert
Median Income
$49,923
$115,179 vs $65,256/yr
Gilbert
Violent Crime
91% lower
132.2 vs 1547.1 per 100k
Gilbert
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
3.5% vs 4.8% unemployment
Gilbert
Summer Heat
14.0°F warmer
July avg high 104.2°F vs 90.2°F
Kansas City
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 93.3 vs 102.5 (100 = US avg)
Kansas City
Median Home Value
$245k less
$208,900 vs $454,300
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Gilbert, AZ | Kansas City, MO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.5⚠ High | 93.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $454,300⚠ High | $208,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,839⚠ High | $1,131 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $115,179 ✓ Higher | $65,256 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.5% ✓ Lower | 4.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.7 min | 22.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 20.5% ✓ Higher | 12.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 39 ✓ Safer | 333⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 35 ✓ Safer | 407⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 46 ✓ Safer | 223⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | B (101) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.5:1 | 13.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 47.1% ✓ Higher | 37.1% |
| High School or Higher | 96.3% ✓ Higher | 91.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Gilbert Unified District (4239) | KANSAS CITY 33 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.6°F ✓ Warmer | 39.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 104.2°F ✓ Warmer | 90.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.8" ✓ Drier | 38.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 11.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 267,267 | 505,958 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.4 | 35.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 74.7% ✓ Higher | 54.0% |
| Under 18 | 29.4% ✓ More | 22.4% |
| Over 65 | 10.2% | 13.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Gilbert's cost of living index is 102.5 vs Kansas City's 93.3 (US average = 100).
Kansas City is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Gilbert leads 15 of 22 categories. Gilbert wins 15 and Kansas City wins 7. 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 Kansas City or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($454,300 vs $208,900 median home), income ($115,179 vs $65,256), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Gilbert, AZ and Kansas City, MO are about 1,037 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.