Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Gilbert, AZ
VS
Richmond, CA
🏆 Gilbert leads 20 of 22 categories
Gilbert
Arizona
20
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$115,179 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
35 ✓ Safer
Population
267,267 ✓ Larger
Richmond
California
2
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$86,618
Violent Crime Index
243⚠ High
Population
115,619
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Gilbert, AZ
Pros
86% less violent crime than Richmond
Homes cost $171k less ($454,300 vs $624,800)
Households earn $28,561 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.4 pts lower (3.5%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (132.2 vs 380/100k)
16% cheaper overall cost of living than Richmond
Cons
Hot summers — July highs average 104°F
Richmond, CA
Pros
Cooler summers — July highs near 71°F vs 104°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $624,800
Violent crime (923.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Gilbert by $28,561/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 118.2)
Key Differences at a Glance
Gilbert
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 102.5 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Gilbert
Median Income
$28,561
$115,179 vs $86,618/yr
Gilbert
Violent Crime
86% lower
132.2 vs 923.1 per 100k
Gilbert
Median Home Value
$171k less
$454,300 vs $624,800
Gilbert
Unemployment
3.4 pp lower
3.5% vs 6.9% unemployment
Gilbert
Summer Heat
33.4°F warmer
July avg high 104.2°F vs 70.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Gilbert, AZ | Richmond, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 118.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $454,300⚠ High ✓ Lower | $624,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,839⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,853⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $115,179 ✓ Higher | $86,618 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.5% ✓ Lower | 6.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.7 min ✓ Shorter | 34.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 20.5% ✓ Higher | 11.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 39 ✓ Safer | 198⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 35 ✓ Safer | 243⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 46 ✓ Safer | 132⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | C+ (86) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 47.1% ✓ Higher | 32.1% |
| High School or Higher | 96.3% ✓ Higher | 79.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Gilbert Unified District (4239) | West Contra Costa Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.6°F ✓ Warmer | 58.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 104.2°F ✓ Warmer | 70.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.8" ✓ Drier | 24.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 267,267 ✓ Larger | 115,619 |
| Median Age | 35.4 | 37.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 74.7% ✓ Higher | 51.9% |
| Under 18 | 29.4% ✓ More | 21.4% |
| Over 65 | 10.2% | 14.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Gilbert's cost of living index is 102.5 vs Richmond's 118.2 (US average = 100).
Gilbert is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Gilbert leads 20 of 22 categories. Gilbert wins 20 and Richmond wins 2. 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 Richmond or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($454,300 vs $624,800 median home), income ($115,179 vs $86,618), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Gilbert, AZ and Richmond, CA are about 676 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.