Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Gilbert, AZ
VS
San Jose, CA
🏆 Gilbert leads 18 of 22 categories
Gilbert
Arizona
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$115,179
Violent Crime Index
35 ✓ Safer
Population
267,267
San Jose
California
4
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$136,010 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
160⚠ High
Population
1,001,176 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Gilbert, AZ
Pros
Homes cost $695k less ($454,300 vs $1,149,600)
78% less violent crime than San Jose
Rent averages $687/mo less ($1,839 vs $2,526)
Violent crime is well below the national average (132.2 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (3.5%)
10% cheaper overall cost of living than San Jose
Cons
Median income trails San Jose by $20,831/yr
Hot summers — July highs average 104°F
San Jose, CA
Pros
Households earn $20,831 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 104°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,149,600
Higher rents — median is $2,526/mo
Violent crime (606.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.9)
Key Differences at a Glance
Gilbert
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 102.5 vs 112.9 (100 = US avg)
Gilbert
Violent Crime
78% lower
132.2 vs 606.8 per 100k
Gilbert
Median Home Value
$695k less
$454,300 vs $1,149,600
Gilbert
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
3.5% vs 4.7% unemployment
Gilbert
Summer Heat
22.0°F warmer
July avg high 104.2°F vs 82.2°F
San Jose
Median Income
$20,831
$136,010 vs $115,179/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Gilbert, AZ | San Jose, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 112.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $454,300⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,149,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,839⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,526⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $115,179 | $136,010 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.5% ✓ Lower | 4.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.7 min ✓ Shorter | 28.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 20.5% ✓ Higher | 16.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 39 ✓ Safer | 145⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 35 ✓ Safer | 160⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 46 ✓ Safer | 123⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | B+ (104) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 47.1% ✓ Higher | 46.0% |
| High School or Higher | 96.3% ✓ Higher | 85.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Gilbert Unified District (4239) | San Jose Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.6°F ✓ Warmer | 59.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 104.2°F ✓ Warmer | 82.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.8" ✓ Drier | 18.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 267,267 | 1,001,176 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.4 | 37.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 74.7% ✓ Higher | 55.8% |
| Under 18 | 29.4% ✓ More | 21.2% |
| Over 65 | 10.2% | 13.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Gilbert's cost of living index is 102.5 vs San Jose's 112.9 (US average = 100).
Gilbert is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Gilbert leads 18 of 22 categories. Gilbert wins 18 and San Jose 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 San Jose or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($454,300 vs $1,149,600 median home), income ($115,179 vs $136,010), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Gilbert, AZ and San Jose, CA are about 631 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.