Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Gilbert, AZ
VS
Vallejo, 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
Vallejo
California
2
wins
Cost of Living Index
109.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$86,112
Violent Crime Index
195⚠ High
Population
125,132
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Gilbert, AZ
Pros
82% less violent crime than Vallejo
Households earn $29,067 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.5 pts lower (3.5%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (132.2 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 47.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Hot summers — July highs average 104°F
Vallejo, CA
Pros
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 104°F
Cons
Median income trails Gilbert by $29,067/yr
Violent crime (739.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3990.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Pricier housing — median home is $515,500
Key Differences at a Glance
Gilbert
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 102.5 vs 109.2 (100 = US avg)
Gilbert
Median Income
$29,067
$115,179 vs $86,112/yr
Gilbert
Violent Crime
82% lower
132.2 vs 739.8 per 100k
Gilbert
Median Home Value
$61k less
$454,300 vs $515,500
Gilbert
Unemployment
3.5 pp lower
3.5% vs 7.0% unemployment
Gilbert
Summer Heat
18.8°F warmer
July avg high 104.2°F vs 85.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Gilbert, AZ | Vallejo, 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 | $515,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,839⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,894⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $115,179 ✓ Higher | $86,112 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.5% ✓ Lower | 7.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.7 min ✓ Shorter | 36.7 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 20.5% ✓ Higher | 8.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 39 ✓ Safer | 193⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 35 ✓ Safer | 195⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 46 ✓ Safer | 190⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | C (81) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 47.1% ✓ Higher | 27.5% |
| High School or Higher | 96.3% ✓ Higher | 87.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Gilbert Unified District (4239) | Vallejo City Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.6°F ✓ Warmer | 57.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 104.2°F ✓ Warmer | 85.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.8" ✓ Drier | 21.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 267,267 ✓ Larger | 125,132 |
| Median Age | 35.4 | 40.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 74.7% ✓ Higher | 58.7% |
| Under 18 | 29.4% ✓ More | 20.3% |
| Over 65 | 10.2% | 17.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Gilbert's cost of living index is 102.5 vs Vallejo'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 Vallejo 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 Vallejo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($454,300 vs $515,500 median home), income ($115,179 vs $86,112), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Gilbert, AZ and Vallejo, CA are about 676 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.