Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Gilbert, AZ
VS
Pasadena, 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
Pasadena
California
4
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$97,818
Violent Crime Index
126⚠ High
Population
137,554
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Gilbert, AZ
Pros
Homes cost $527k less ($454,300 vs $981,600)
72% less violent crime than Pasadena
Violent crime is well below the national average (132.2 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.7 pts lower (3.5%)
Households earn $17,361 more per year on average
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Pasadena
Cons
Hot summers — July highs average 104°F
Pasadena, CA
Pros
Cooler summers — July highs near 89°F vs 104°F
More college-educated — 54.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $981,600
Violent crime (480.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Median income trails Gilbert by $17,361/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Gilbert
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 102.5 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Gilbert
Median Income
$17,361
$115,179 vs $97,818/yr
Gilbert
Violent Crime
72% lower
132.2 vs 480.4 per 100k
Gilbert
Median Home Value
$527k less
$454,300 vs $981,600
Gilbert
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
3.5% vs 5.2% unemployment
Gilbert
Summer Heat
15.1°F warmer
July avg high 104.2°F vs 89.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Gilbert, AZ | Pasadena, 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 ✓ Lower | $981,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,839⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,100⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $115,179 ✓ Higher | $97,818 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.5% ✓ Lower | 5.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.7 min ✓ Shorter | 27.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 20.5% ✓ Higher | 20.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 39 ✓ Safer | 127⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 35 ✓ Safer | 126⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 46 ✓ Safer | 128⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | B+ (105) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 47.1% | 54.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 96.3% ✓ Higher | 89.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Gilbert Unified District (4239) | Pasadena Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.6°F | 68.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 104.2°F ✓ Warmer | 89.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.8" ✓ Drier | 20.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 267,267 ✓ Larger | 137,554 |
| Median Age | 35.4 | 39.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 74.7% ✓ Higher | 42.1% |
| Under 18 | 29.4% ✓ More | 17.0% |
| Over 65 | 10.2% | 16.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Gilbert's cost of living index is 102.5 vs Pasadena'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 Pasadena 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 Pasadena or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($454,300 vs $981,600 median home), income ($115,179 vs $97,818), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Gilbert, AZ and Pasadena, CA are about 372 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.