Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Gilbert, AZ
VS
Visalia, CA
🏆 Gilbert leads 18 of 23 categories
Gilbert
Arizona
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$115,179 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
35 ✓ Safer
Population
267,267 ✓ Larger
Visalia
California
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$75,658
Violent Crime Index
115⚠ High
Population
141,466
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Gilbert, AZ
Pros
70% less violent crime than Visalia
Households earn $39,521 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 55°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $454,300
Higher rents — median is $1,839/mo
Hot summers — July highs average 104°F
Visalia, CA
Pros
Homes cost $138k less ($316,600 vs $454,300)
Rent averages $550/mo less ($1,289 vs $1,839)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 94°F vs 104°F
Cons
Median income trails Gilbert by $39,521/yr
Higher unemployment (5.6% vs 3.5%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Gilbert
Median Income
$39,521
$115,179 vs $75,658/yr
Gilbert
Violent Crime
70% lower
132.2 vs 435.3 per 100k
Gilbert
Unemployment
2.1 pp lower
3.5% vs 5.6% unemployment
Gilbert
Summer Heat
10.4°F warmer
July avg high 104.2°F vs 93.8°F
Visalia
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 101.3 vs 102.5 (100 = US avg)
Visalia
Median Home Value
$138k less
$316,600 vs $454,300
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Gilbert, AZ | Visalia, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.5⚠ High | 101.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $454,300⚠ High | $316,600⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,839⚠ High | $1,289 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $115,179 ✓ Higher | $75,658 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.5% ✓ Lower | 5.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.7 min | 21.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 20.5% ✓ Higher | 6.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 39 ✓ Safer | 109⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 35 ✓ Safer | 115⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 46 ✓ Safer | 101⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 47.1% ✓ Higher | 23.3% |
| High School or Higher | 96.3% ✓ Higher | 86.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Gilbert Unified District (4239) | Visalia Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.6°F ✓ Warmer | 55.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 104.2°F ✓ Warmer | 93.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.8" ✓ Drier | 10.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 0.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 267,267 ✓ Larger | 141,466 |
| Median Age | 35.4 ✓ Older | 33.0 |
| Homeownership Rate | 74.7% ✓ Higher | 60.0% |
| Under 18 | 29.4% ✓ More | 28.2% |
| Over 65 | 10.2% | 13.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Gilbert's cost of living index is 102.5 vs Visalia's 101.3 (US average = 100).
Visalia is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Gilbert leads 18 of 23 categories. Gilbert wins 18 and Visalia 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 Visalia or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($454,300 vs $316,600 median home), income ($115,179 vs $75,658), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Gilbert, AZ and Visalia, CA are about 478 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.