Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Gilbert, AZ
VS
Vancouver, WA
🏆 Gilbert leads 18 of 23 categories
Gilbert
Arizona
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$115,179 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
35 ✓ Safer
Population
267,267 ✓ Larger
Vancouver
Washington
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$73,626
Violent Crime Index
153⚠ High
Population
190,700
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Gilbert, AZ
Pros
77% less violent crime than Vancouver
Households earn $41,553 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.1 pts lower (3.5%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (132.2 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 47.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 47°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,839/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $454,300
Hot summers — July highs average 104°F
Vancouver, WA
Pros
Rent averages $314/mo less ($1,525 vs $1,839)
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 104°F
Homes cost $51k less ($403,400 vs $454,300)
Cons
Median income trails Gilbert by $41,553/yr
Violent crime (582.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3407.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.6% vs 3.5%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Gilbert
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 102.5 vs 106.6 (100 = US avg)
Gilbert
Median Income
$41,553
$115,179 vs $73,626/yr
Gilbert
Violent Crime
77% lower
132.2 vs 582.3 per 100k
Gilbert
Unemployment
2.1 pp lower
3.5% vs 5.6% unemployment
Gilbert
Summer Heat
23.3°F warmer
July avg high 104.2°F vs 80.9°F
Vancouver
Median Home Value
$51k less
$403,400 vs $454,300
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Gilbert, AZ | Vancouver, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 106.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $454,300⚠ High | $403,400⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,839⚠ High | $1,525⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $115,179 ✓ Higher | $73,626 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.5% ✓ Lower | 5.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.7 min | 23.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 20.5% ✓ Higher | 13.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 39 ✓ Safer | 157⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 35 ✓ Safer | 153⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 46 ✓ Safer | 162⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | B (97) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 47.1% ✓ Higher | 31.2% |
| High School or Higher | 96.3% ✓ Higher | 91.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Gilbert Unified District (4239) | Evergreen School District (Clark) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.6°F ✓ Warmer | 47.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 104.2°F ✓ Warmer | 80.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.8" ✓ Drier | 44.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 4.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 267,267 ✓ Larger | 190,700 |
| Median Age | 35.4 | 37.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 74.7% ✓ Higher | 50.9% |
| Under 18 | 29.4% ✓ More | 21.5% |
| Over 65 | 10.2% | 16.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Gilbert's cost of living index is 102.5 vs Vancouver's 106.6 (US average = 100).
Gilbert is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Gilbert leads 18 of 23 categories. Gilbert wins 18 and Vancouver wins 5. 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 Vancouver or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($454,300 vs $403,400 median home), income ($115,179 vs $73,626), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Gilbert, AZ and Vancouver, WA are about 1,028 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.