Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Gilbert, AZ
VS
Tempe, AZ
🏆 It's a dead heat — 11 categories each
Gilbert
Arizona
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$115,179 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
35 ✓ Safer
Population
267,267 ✓ Larger
Tempe
Arizona
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
99.9 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$72,022
Violent Crime Index
124⚠ High
Population
181,005
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Gilbert, AZ
Pros
72% less violent crime than Tempe
Households earn $43,157 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.2 pts lower (3.5%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (132.2 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,839/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $454,300
Hot summers — July highs average 104°F
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Tempe
Tempe, AZ
Pros
Rent averages $367/mo less ($1,472 vs $1,839)
Homes cost $72k less ($382,100 vs $454,300)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 66°F
Smaller class sizes — 14.3:1 student-teacher ratio
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Gilbert
Cons
Median income trails Gilbert by $43,157/yr
Violent crime (470.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2893.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.7% vs 3.5%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Gilbert
Median Income
$43,157
$115,179 vs $72,022/yr
Gilbert
Violent Crime
72% lower
132.2 vs 470.3 per 100k
Gilbert
Unemployment
2.2 pp lower
3.5% vs 5.7% unemployment
Tempe
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 99.9 vs 102.5 (100 = US avg)
Tempe
Median Home Value
$72k less
$382,100 vs $454,300
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Gilbert, AZ | Tempe, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.5⚠ High | 99.9 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $454,300⚠ High | $382,100⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,839⚠ High | $1,472⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $115,179 ✓ Higher | $72,022 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.5% ✓ Lower | 5.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.7 min | 21.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 20.5% ✓ Higher | 16.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 39 ✓ Safer | 129⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 35 ✓ Safer | 124⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 46 ✓ Safer | 138⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) | A (125) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.5:1 | 14.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 47.1% | 48.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 96.3% ✓ Higher | 93.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Gilbert Unified District (4239) | Tempe School District (4258) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.6°F | 70.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 104.2°F | 105.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.8" | 8.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 267,267 ✓ Larger | 181,005 |
| Median Age | 35.4 ✓ Older | 29.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 74.7% ✓ Higher | 40.7% |
| Under 18 | 29.4% ✓ More | 14.4% |
| Over 65 | 10.2% | 10.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Gilbert's cost of living index is 102.5 vs Tempe's 99.9 (US average = 100).
Tempe is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. Gilbert wins 11 and Tempe wins 11. 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 Tempe or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($454,300 vs $382,100 median home), income ($115,179 vs $72,022), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Gilbert, AZ and Tempe, AZ are about 12 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.