Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Gilbert, AZ
VS
Lansing, MI
🏆 Gilbert leads 18 of 23 categories
Gilbert
Arizona
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$115,179 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
35 ✓ Safer
Population
267,267 ✓ Larger
Lansing
Michigan
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$50,747
Violent Crime Index
354⚠ High
Population
112,986
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Gilbert, AZ
Pros
Households earn $64,432 more per year on average
90% less violent crime than Lansing
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.8 pts lower (3.5%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (132.2 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 31°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 10% higher than Lansing
Hot summers — July highs average 104°F
Lansing, MI
Pros
Homes cost $342k less ($112,200 vs $454,300)
Rent averages $885/mo less ($954 vs $1,839)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 104°F
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Gilbert
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.8)
Cons
Median income trails Gilbert by $64,432/yr
Violent crime (1345.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2499.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.3% vs 3.5%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Gilbert
Median Income
$64,432
$115,179 vs $50,747/yr
Gilbert
Violent Crime
90% lower
132.2 vs 1345.1 per 100k
Gilbert
Unemployment
4.8 pp lower
3.5% vs 8.3% unemployment
Gilbert
Summer Heat
21.4°F warmer
July avg high 104.2°F vs 82.8°F
Lansing
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 92.8 vs 102.5 (100 = US avg)
Lansing
Median Home Value
$342k less
$112,200 vs $454,300
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Gilbert, AZ | Lansing, MI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.5⚠ High | 92.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $454,300⚠ High | $112,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,839⚠ High | $954 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $115,179 ✓ Higher | $50,747 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.5% ✓ Lower | 8.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.7 min | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 20.5% ✓ Higher | 10.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 39 ✓ Safer | 260⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 35 ✓ Safer | 354⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 46 ✓ Safer | 119⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | C+ (85) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 47.1% ✓ Higher | 29.3% |
| High School or Higher | 96.3% ✓ Higher | 90.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Gilbert Unified District (4239) | Lansing Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.6°F ✓ Warmer | 30.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 104.2°F ✓ Warmer | 82.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.8" ✓ Drier | 33.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 50.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 267,267 ✓ Larger | 112,986 |
| Median Age | 35.4 ✓ Older | 32.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 74.7% ✓ Higher | 53.3% |
| Under 18 | 29.4% ✓ More | 22.8% |
| Over 65 | 10.2% | 12.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Gilbert's cost of living index is 102.5 vs Lansing's 92.8 (US average = 100).
Lansing is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Gilbert leads 18 of 23 categories. Gilbert wins 18 and Lansing wins 5. 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 Lansing or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($454,300 vs $112,200 median home), income ($115,179 vs $50,747), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Gilbert, AZ and Lansing, MI are about 1,607 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.