Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Gilbert, AZ
VS
Santa Rosa, 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
Santa Rosa
California
3
wins
Cost of Living Index
110.1⚠ High
Median Household Income
$92,604
Violent Crime Index
90
Population
178,221
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Gilbert, AZ
Pros
61% less violent crime than Santa Rosa
Homes cost $207k less ($454,300 vs $661,700)
Households earn $22,575 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.1 pts lower (3.5%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (132.2 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 47.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Hot summers — July highs average 104°F
Santa Rosa, CA
Pros
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 104°F
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $661,700
Median income trails Gilbert by $22,575/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 110.1)
Higher unemployment (5.6% vs 3.5%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Gilbert
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 102.5 vs 110.1 (100 = US avg)
Gilbert
Median Income
$22,575
$115,179 vs $92,604/yr
Gilbert
Violent Crime
61% lower
132.2 vs 342.6 per 100k
Gilbert
Median Home Value
$207k less
$454,300 vs $661,700
Gilbert
Unemployment
2.1 pp lower
3.5% vs 5.6% unemployment
Gilbert
Summer Heat
22.6°F warmer
July avg high 104.2°F vs 81.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Gilbert, AZ | Santa Rosa, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 110.1⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $454,300⚠ High ✓ Lower | $661,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,839⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,024⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $115,179 ✓ Higher | $92,604 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.5% ✓ Lower | 5.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.7 min | 22.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 20.5% ✓ Higher | 8.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 39 ✓ Safer | 79 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 35 ✓ Safer | 90 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 46 ✓ Safer | 63 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | B- (90) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 47.1% ✓ Higher | 34.7% |
| High School or Higher | 96.3% ✓ Higher | 85.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Gilbert Unified District (4239) | Rincon Valley Union Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.6°F ✓ Warmer | 59.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 104.2°F ✓ Warmer | 81.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.8" ✓ Drier | 31.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 267,267 ✓ Larger | 178,221 |
| Median Age | 35.4 | 40.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 74.7% ✓ Higher | 55.7% |
| Under 18 | 29.4% ✓ More | 20.5% |
| Over 65 | 10.2% | 18.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Gilbert's cost of living index is 102.5 vs Santa Rosa's 110.1 (US average = 100).
Gilbert is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Gilbert leads 19 of 22 categories. Gilbert wins 19 and Santa Rosa 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 Santa Rosa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($454,300 vs $661,700 median home), income ($115,179 vs $92,604), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Gilbert, AZ and Santa Rosa, CA are about 708 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.