Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Gilbert, AZ
VS
South Gate, 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
South Gate
California
3
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$67,188
Violent Crime Index
138⚠ High
Population
92,381
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Gilbert, AZ
Pros
Households earn $47,991 more per year on average
75% less violent crime than South Gate
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.4 pts lower (3.5%)
More college-educated — 47.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Homes cost $125k less ($454,300 vs $578,900)
Violent crime is well below the national average (132.2 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,839/mo
Hot summers — July highs average 104°F
South Gate, CA
Pros
Rent averages $439/mo less ($1,400 vs $1,839)
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 104°F
Cons
Median income trails Gilbert by $47,991/yr
Violent crime (525.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $578,900
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
$47,991
$115,179 vs $67,188/yr
Gilbert
Violent Crime
75% lower
132.2 vs 525.6 per 100k
Gilbert
Median Home Value
$125k less
$454,300 vs $578,900
Gilbert
Unemployment
4.4 pp lower
3.5% vs 7.9% unemployment
Gilbert
Summer Heat
22.2°F warmer
July avg high 104.2°F vs 82.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Gilbert, AZ | South Gate, 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 | $578,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,839⚠ High | $1,400⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $115,179 ✓ Higher | $67,188 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.5% ✓ Lower | 7.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.7 min ✓ Shorter | 32.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 20.5% ✓ Higher | 6.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 39 ✓ Safer | 152⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 35 ✓ Safer | 138⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 46 ✓ Safer | 171⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | C- (72) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 47.1% ✓ Higher | 11.5% |
| High School or Higher | 96.3% ✓ Higher | 58.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Gilbert Unified District (4239) | Westbrook Academy District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.6°F | 68.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 104.2°F ✓ Warmer | 82.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.8" ✓ Drier | 14.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 267,267 ✓ Larger | 92,381 |
| Median Age | 35.4 ✓ Older | 33.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 74.7% ✓ Higher | 44.8% |
| Under 18 | 29.4% ✓ More | 24.8% |
| Over 65 | 10.2% | 11.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Gilbert's cost of living index is 102.5 vs South Gate's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Gilbert is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Gilbert leads 19 of 22 categories. Gilbert wins 19 and South Gate 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 South Gate or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($454,300 vs $578,900 median home), income ($115,179 vs $67,188), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Gilbert, AZ and South Gate, CA are about 374 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.