Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Gilbert, AZ
VS
McAllen, TX
🏆 Gilbert leads 16 of 23 categories
Gilbert
Arizona
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$115,179 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
35 ✓ Safer
Population
267,267 ✓ Larger
McAllen
Texas
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
85.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$56,326
Violent Crime Index
39
Population
142,722
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Gilbert, AZ
Pros
Households earn $58,853 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (132.2 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.9 pts lower (3.5%)
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 17% higher than McAllen
Hot summers — July highs average 104°F
McAllen, TX
Pros
Homes cost $296k less ($158,700 vs $454,300)
Rent averages $884/mo less ($955 vs $1,839)
Violent crime is well below the national average (150.0 vs 380/100k)
17% cheaper overall cost of living than Gilbert
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 85.6)
Cons
Median income trails Gilbert by $58,853/yr
Higher unemployment (5.4% vs 3.5%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Gilbert
Median Income
$58,853
$115,179 vs $56,326/yr
Gilbert
Violent Crime
12% lower
132.2 vs 150.0 per 100k
Gilbert
Unemployment
1.9 pp lower
3.5% vs 5.4% unemployment
Gilbert
Summer Heat
6.7°F warmer
July avg high 104.2°F vs 97.5°F
McAllen
Cost of Living
17% cheaper
COL index 85.6 vs 102.5 (100 = US avg)
McAllen
Median Home Value
$296k less
$158,700 vs $454,300
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Gilbert, AZ | McAllen, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.5⚠ High | 85.6 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $454,300⚠ High | $158,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,839⚠ High | $955 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $115,179 ✓ Higher | $56,326 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.5% ✓ Lower | 5.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.7 min | 21.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 20.5% ✓ Higher | 9.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 39 ✓ Safer | 59 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 35 ✓ Safer | 39 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 46 ✓ Safer | 87 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | B+ (104) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.5:1 | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 47.1% ✓ Higher | 31.8% |
| High School or Higher | 96.3% ✓ Higher | 78.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Gilbert Unified District (4239) | MCALLEN ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.6°F | 71.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 104.2°F ✓ Warmer | 97.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.8" ✓ Drier | 27.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 0.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 267,267 ✓ Larger | 142,722 |
| Median Age | 35.4 ✓ Older | 32.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 74.7% ✓ Higher | 59.4% |
| Under 18 | 29.4% ✓ More | 28.3% |
| Over 65 | 10.2% | 13.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Gilbert's cost of living index is 102.5 vs McAllen's 85.6 (US average = 100).
McAllen is 17% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Gilbert leads 16 of 23 categories. Gilbert wins 16 and McAllen 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 McAllen or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($454,300 vs $158,700 median home), income ($115,179 vs $56,326), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Gilbert, AZ and McAllen, TX are about 945 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.