Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Gilbert, AZ
VS
Rialto, CA
🏆 Gilbert leads 19 of 22 categories
Gilbert
Arizona
19
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$115,179 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
35 ✓ Safer
Population
267,267 ✓ Larger
Rialto
California
3
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$80,750
Violent Crime Index
169⚠ High
Population
103,873
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Gilbert, AZ
Pros
79% less violent crime than Rialto
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.8 pts lower (3.5%)
Households earn $34,429 more per year on average
More college-educated — 47.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (132.2 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,839/mo
Hot summers — July highs average 104°F
Pricier housing — median home is $454,300
Rialto, CA
Pros
Rent averages $286/mo less ($1,553 vs $1,839)
Homes cost $36k less ($418,300 vs $454,300)
Cooler summers — July highs near 94°F vs 104°F
Cons
Median income trails Gilbert by $34,429/yr
Violent crime (641.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (9.3% vs 3.5%)
Longer commutes — 33.3 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Gilbert
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 102.5 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Gilbert
Median Income
$34,429
$115,179 vs $80,750/yr
Gilbert
Violent Crime
79% lower
132.2 vs 641.7 per 100k
Gilbert
Unemployment
5.8 pp lower
3.5% vs 9.3% unemployment
Gilbert
Summer Heat
10.1°F warmer
July avg high 104.2°F vs 94.1°F
Rialto
Median Home Value
$36k less
$418,300 vs $454,300
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Gilbert, AZ | Rialto, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 107.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $454,300⚠ High | $418,300⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,839⚠ High | $1,553⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $115,179 ✓ Higher | $80,750 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.5% ✓ Lower | 9.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.7 min ✓ Shorter | 33.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 20.5% ✓ Higher | 6.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 39 ✓ Safer | 147⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 35 ✓ Safer | 169⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 46 ✓ Safer | 114⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | C (81) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 47.1% ✓ Higher | 12.3% |
| High School or Higher | 96.3% ✓ Higher | 74.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Gilbert Unified District (4239) | Rialto Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.6°F | 69.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 104.2°F ✓ Warmer | 94.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.8" ✓ Drier | 17.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 267,267 ✓ Larger | 103,873 |
| Median Age | 35.4 ✓ Older | 31.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 74.7% ✓ Higher | 62.9% |
| Under 18 | 29.4% ✓ More | 27.0% |
| Over 65 | 10.2% ✓ More | 9.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Gilbert's cost of living index is 102.5 vs Rialto's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Gilbert is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Gilbert leads 19 of 22 categories. Gilbert wins 19 and Rialto wins 3. 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 Rialto or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($454,300 vs $418,300 median home), income ($115,179 vs $80,750), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Gilbert, AZ and Rialto, CA are about 329 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.