Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Gilbert, AZ
VS
Vacaville, CA
🏆 Gilbert leads 20 of 22 categories
Gilbert
Arizona
20
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$115,179 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
35 ✓ Safer
Population
267,267 ✓ Larger
Vacaville
California
2
wins
Cost of Living Index
109.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$106,764
Violent Crime Index
77
Population
101,631
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Gilbert, AZ
Pros
55% less violent crime than Vacaville
Homes cost $106k less ($454,300 vs $560,400)
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
Rent averages $302/mo less ($1,839 vs $2,141)
Cons
Hot summers — July highs average 104°F
Vacaville, CA
Pros
Cooler summers — July highs near 95°F vs 104°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $560,400
Higher rents — median is $2,141/mo
Higher unemployment (5.4% vs 3.5%)
Median income trails Gilbert by $8,415/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Gilbert
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 102.5 vs 109.2 (100 = US avg)
Gilbert
Median Income
$8,415
$115,179 vs $106,764/yr
Gilbert
Violent Crime
55% lower
132.2 vs 293.2 per 100k
Gilbert
Median Home Value
$106k less
$454,300 vs $560,400
Gilbert
Unemployment
1.9 pp lower
3.5% vs 5.4% unemployment
Gilbert
Summer Heat
9.2°F warmer
July avg high 104.2°F vs 95.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Gilbert, AZ | Vacaville, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 109.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $454,300⚠ High ✓ Lower | $560,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,839⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,141⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $115,179 ✓ Higher | $106,764 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.5% ✓ Lower | 5.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.7 min ✓ Shorter | 28.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 20.5% ✓ Higher | 9.7% |
| 🔒 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 | 77 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 46 ✓ Safer | 83 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | C+ (89) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 47.1% ✓ Higher | 26.3% |
| High School or Higher | 96.3% ✓ Higher | 91.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Gilbert Unified District (4239) | Vacaville Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.6°F ✓ Warmer | 57.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 104.2°F ✓ Warmer | 95.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.8" ✓ Drier | 24.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 267,267 ✓ Larger | 101,631 |
| Median Age | 35.4 | 37.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 74.7% ✓ Higher | 66.2% |
| Under 18 | 29.4% ✓ More | 22.5% |
| Over 65 | 10.2% | 14.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Gilbert's cost of living index is 102.5 vs Vacaville's 109.2 (US average = 100).
Gilbert is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Gilbert leads 20 of 22 categories. Gilbert wins 20 and Vacaville wins 2. 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 Vacaville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($454,300 vs $560,400 median home), income ($115,179 vs $106,764), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Gilbert, AZ and Vacaville, CA are about 670 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.