Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Gilbert, AZ
VS
Tacoma, WA
🏆 Gilbert leads 19 of 23 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
Tacoma
Washington
4
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$79,085
Violent Crime Index
280⚠ High
Population
219,234
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Gilbert, AZ
Pros
88% less violent crime than Tacoma
Households earn $36,094 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (132.2 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.9 pts lower (3.5%)
More college-educated — 47.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Tacoma
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,839/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $454,300
Hot summers — July highs average 104°F
Tacoma, WA
Pros
Rent averages $350/mo less ($1,489 vs $1,839)
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 104°F
Homes cost $39k less ($415,300 vs $454,300)
Cons
Median income trails Gilbert by $36,094/yr
Violent crime (1063.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Property crime (5603.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Gilbert
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 102.5 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Gilbert
Median Income
$36,094
$115,179 vs $79,085/yr
Gilbert
Violent Crime
88% lower
132.2 vs 1063.0 per 100k
Gilbert
Unemployment
1.9 pp lower
3.5% vs 5.4% unemployment
Gilbert
Summer Heat
27.4°F warmer
July avg high 104.2°F vs 76.8°F
Tacoma
Median Home Value
$39k less
$415,300 vs $454,300
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Gilbert, AZ | Tacoma, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 113.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $454,300⚠ High | $415,300⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,839⚠ High | $1,489⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $115,179 ✓ Higher | $79,085 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.5% ✓ Lower | 5.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.7 min ✓ Shorter | 29.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 20.5% ✓ Higher | 12.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 39 ✓ Safer | 275⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 35 ✓ Safer | 280⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 46 ✓ Safer | 267⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | B- (91) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 47.1% ✓ Higher | 32.8% |
| High School or Higher | 96.3% ✓ Higher | 90.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Gilbert Unified District (4239) | Tacoma School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.6°F ✓ Warmer | 48.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 104.2°F ✓ Warmer | 76.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.8" ✓ Drier | 40.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 5.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 267,267 ✓ Larger | 219,234 |
| Median Age | 35.4 | 36.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 74.7% ✓ Higher | 56.8% |
| Under 18 | 29.4% ✓ More | 19.7% |
| Over 65 | 10.2% | 14.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Gilbert's cost of living index is 102.5 vs Tacoma's 113.0 (US average = 100).
Gilbert is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Gilbert leads 19 of 23 categories. Gilbert wins 19 and Tacoma 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 Tacoma or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($454,300 vs $415,300 median home), income ($115,179 vs $79,085), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Gilbert, AZ and Tacoma, WA are about 1,114 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.