Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Gilbert, AZ
VS
Lancaster, CA
🏆 Gilbert leads 18 of 22 categories
Gilbert
Arizona
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$115,179 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
35 ✓ Safer
Population
267,267 ✓ Larger
Lancaster
California
4
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,367
Violent Crime Index
220⚠ High
Population
171,465
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Gilbert, AZ
Pros
84% less violent crime than Lancaster
Households earn $43,812 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.0 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)
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Lancaster
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $454,300
Higher rents — median is $1,839/mo
Hot summers — July highs average 104°F
Lancaster, CA
Pros
Homes cost $86k less ($368,800 vs $454,300)
Rent averages $263/mo less ($1,576 vs $1,839)
Cooler summers — July highs near 98°F vs 104°F
Cons
Median income trails Gilbert by $43,812/yr
Violent crime (834.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
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
$43,812
$115,179 vs $71,367/yr
Gilbert
Violent Crime
84% lower
132.2 vs 834.7 per 100k
Gilbert
Unemployment
4.0 pp lower
3.5% vs 7.5% unemployment
Gilbert
Summer Heat
6.6°F warmer
July avg high 104.2°F vs 97.6°F
Lancaster
Median Home Value
$86k less
$368,800 vs $454,300
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Gilbert, AZ | Lancaster, 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 | $368,800⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,839⚠ High | $1,576⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $115,179 ✓ Higher | $71,367 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.5% ✓ Lower | 7.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.7 min ✓ Shorter | 30.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 20.5% ✓ Higher | 8.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 39 ✓ Safer | 168⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 35 ✓ Safer | 220⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 46 ✓ Safer | 91 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | C- (63) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 47.1% ✓ Higher | 19.4% |
| High School or Higher | 96.3% ✓ Higher | 81.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Gilbert Unified District (4239) | Lancaster Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.6°F ✓ Warmer | 58.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 104.2°F ✓ Warmer | 97.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.8" | 6.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 267,267 ✓ Larger | 171,465 |
| Median Age | 35.4 ✓ Older | 33.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 74.7% ✓ Higher | 57.1% |
| Under 18 | 29.4% ✓ More | 27.8% |
| Over 65 | 10.2% | 11.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Gilbert's cost of living index is 102.5 vs Lancaster's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Gilbert is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Gilbert leads 18 of 22 categories. Gilbert wins 18 and Lancaster wins 4. 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 Lancaster or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($454,300 vs $368,800 median home), income ($115,179 vs $71,367), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Gilbert, AZ and Lancaster, CA are about 381 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.