Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Gilbert, AZ
VS
Santa Ana, 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
Santa Ana
California
4
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$84,210
Violent Crime Index
130⚠ High
Population
311,379 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Gilbert, AZ
Pros
73% less violent crime than Santa Ana
Homes cost $170k less ($454,300 vs $624,000)
Households earn $30,969 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)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.0 pts lower (3.5%)
Cons
Hot summers — July highs average 104°F
Santa Ana, CA
Pros
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 104°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $624,000
Median income trails Gilbert by $30,969/yr
Violent crime (493.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Gilbert
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 102.5 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Gilbert
Median Income
$30,969
$115,179 vs $84,210/yr
Gilbert
Violent Crime
73% lower
132.2 vs 493.1 per 100k
Gilbert
Median Home Value
$170k less
$454,300 vs $624,000
Gilbert
Unemployment
2.0 pp lower
3.5% vs 5.5% unemployment
Gilbert
Summer Heat
21.7°F warmer
July avg high 104.2°F vs 82.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Gilbert, AZ | Santa Ana, 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 | $624,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,839⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,885⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $115,179 ✓ Higher | $84,210 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.5% ✓ Lower | 5.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.7 min | 25.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 20.5% ✓ Higher | 8.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 39 ✓ Safer | 110⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 35 ✓ Safer | 130⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 46 ✓ Safer | 81 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | C+ (84) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 47.1% ✓ Higher | 17.9% |
| High School or Higher | 96.3% ✓ Higher | 65.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Gilbert Unified District (4239) | Santa Ana Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.6°F | 69.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 104.2°F ✓ Warmer | 82.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.8" ✓ Drier | 12.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 267,267 | 311,379 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.4 ✓ Older | 33.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 74.7% ✓ Higher | 44.8% |
| Under 18 | 29.4% ✓ More | 24.1% |
| Over 65 | 10.2% | 10.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Gilbert's cost of living index is 102.5 vs Santa Ana'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 Santa Ana 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 Santa Ana or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($454,300 vs $624,000 median home), income ($115,179 vs $84,210), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Gilbert, AZ and Santa Ana, CA are about 355 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.