Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Gilbert, AZ
VS
Phoenix, AZ
🏆 Gilbert leads 15 of 23 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
Phoenix
Arizona
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$72,092
Violent Crime Index
210⚠ High
Population
1,609,456 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Gilbert, AZ
Pros
83% less violent crime than Phoenix
Households earn $43,087 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (132.2 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.7 pts lower (3.5%)
More college-educated — 47.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,839/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $454,300
Hot summers — July highs average 104°F
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Phoenix
Phoenix, AZ
Pros
Rent averages $517/mo less ($1,322 vs $1,839)
Homes cost $114k less ($340,200 vs $454,300)
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Gilbert
Cons
Median income trails Gilbert by $43,087/yr
Violent crime (799.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (5.2% vs 3.5%)
Hot summers — July highs average 104°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Gilbert
Median Income
$43,087
$115,179 vs $72,092/yr
Gilbert
Violent Crime
83% lower
132.2 vs 799.6 per 100k
Gilbert
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
3.5% vs 5.2% unemployment
Phoenix
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 98.4 vs 102.5 (100 = US avg)
Phoenix
Median Home Value
$114k less
$340,200 vs $454,300
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Gilbert, AZ | Phoenix, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.5⚠ High | 98.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $454,300⚠ High | $340,200⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,839⚠ High | $1,322 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $115,179 ✓ Higher | $72,092 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.5% ✓ Lower | 5.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.7 min | 25.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 20.5% ✓ Higher | 14.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 39 ✓ Safer | 171⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 35 ✓ Safer | 210⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 46 ✓ Safer | 111⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | B (98) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.5:1 | 15.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 47.1% ✓ Higher | 31.2% |
| High School or Higher | 96.3% ✓ Higher | 83.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Gilbert Unified District (4239) | Paradise Valley Unified District (4241) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.6°F ✓ Warmer | 65.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 104.2°F ✓ Warmer | 104.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.8" | 8.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 0.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 267,267 | 1,609,456 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.4 ✓ Older | 34.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 74.7% ✓ Higher | 56.4% |
| Under 18 | 29.4% ✓ More | 24.5% |
| Over 65 | 10.2% | 11.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Gilbert's cost of living index is 102.5 vs Phoenix's 98.4 (US average = 100).
Phoenix is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Gilbert leads 15 of 23 categories. Gilbert wins 15 and Phoenix wins 8. 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 Phoenix or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($454,300 vs $340,200 median home), income ($115,179 vs $72,092), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Gilbert, AZ and Phoenix, AZ are about 27 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.