Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Gilbert, AZ
VS
Waco, TX
🏆 Gilbert leads 16 of 22 categories
Gilbert
Arizona
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$115,179 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
35 ✓ Safer
Population
267,267 ✓ Larger
Waco
Texas
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$47,421
Violent Crime Index
112⚠ High
Population
140,545
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Gilbert, AZ
Pros
Households earn $67,758 more per year on average
69% less violent crime than Waco
Violent crime is well below the national average (132.2 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 47.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (3.5%)
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 59°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $454,300
Higher rents — median is $1,839/mo
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Waco
Hot summers — July highs average 104°F
Waco, TX
Pros
Homes cost $280k less ($174,100 vs $454,300)
Rent averages $801/mo less ($1,038 vs $1,839)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Gilbert
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.8)
Cooler summers — July highs near 95°F vs 104°F
Cons
Median income trails Gilbert by $67,758/yr
Higher unemployment (4.5% vs 3.5%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Gilbert
Median Income
$67,758
$115,179 vs $47,421/yr
Gilbert
Violent Crime
69% lower
132.2 vs 425.9 per 100k
Gilbert
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
3.5% vs 4.5% unemployment
Gilbert
Summer Heat
9.7°F warmer
July avg high 104.2°F vs 94.5°F
Waco
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 90.8 vs 102.5 (100 = US avg)
Waco
Median Home Value
$280k less
$174,100 vs $454,300
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Gilbert, AZ | Waco, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.5⚠ High | 90.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $454,300⚠ High | $174,100 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,839⚠ High | $1,038 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $115,179 ✓ Higher | $47,421 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.5% ✓ Lower | 4.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.7 min | 17.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 20.5% ✓ Higher | 7.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 39 ✓ Safer | 108⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 35 ✓ Safer | 112⚠ 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 | B- (96) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.5:1 | 14.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 47.1% ✓ Higher | 27.9% |
| High School or Higher | 96.3% ✓ Higher | 85.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Gilbert Unified District (4239) | WACO ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.6°F ✓ Warmer | 58.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 104.2°F ✓ Warmer | 94.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.8" ✓ Drier | 38.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 267,267 ✓ Larger | 140,545 |
| Median Age | 35.4 ✓ Older | 28.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 74.7% ✓ Higher | 47.3% |
| Under 18 | 29.4% ✓ More | 23.2% |
| Over 65 | 10.2% | 12.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Gilbert's cost of living index is 102.5 vs Waco's 90.8 (US average = 100).
Waco is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Gilbert leads 16 of 22 categories. Gilbert wins 16 and Waco wins 6. 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 Waco or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($454,300 vs $174,100 median home), income ($115,179 vs $47,421), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Gilbert, AZ and Waco, TX are about 856 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.