Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Gilbert, AZ
VS
West Covina, CA
🏆 Gilbert leads 19 of 22 categories
Gilbert
Arizona
19
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$115,179 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
35 ✓ Safer
Population
267,267 ✓ Larger
West Covina
California
3
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$96,219
Violent Crime Index
63
Population
108,173
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Gilbert, AZ
Pros
Homes cost $210k less ($454,300 vs $664,500)
45% less violent crime than West Covina
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.2 pts lower (3.5%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (132.2 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $18,960 more per year on average
More college-educated — 47.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Hot summers — July highs average 104°F
West Covina, CA
Pros
Violent crime is well below the national average (239.3 vs 380/100k)
Cooler summers — July highs near 90°F vs 104°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $664,500
Median income trails Gilbert by $18,960/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Gilbert
Key Differences at a Glance
Gilbert
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 102.5 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Gilbert
Median Income
$18,960
$115,179 vs $96,219/yr
Gilbert
Violent Crime
45% lower
132.2 vs 239.3 per 100k
Gilbert
Median Home Value
$210k less
$454,300 vs $664,500
Gilbert
Unemployment
3.2 pp lower
3.5% vs 6.7% unemployment
Gilbert
Summer Heat
13.9°F warmer
July avg high 104.2°F vs 90.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Gilbert, AZ | West Covina, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $454,300⚠ High ✓ Lower | $664,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,839⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,054⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $115,179 ✓ Higher | $96,219 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.5% ✓ Lower | 6.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.7 min ✓ Shorter | 33.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 20.5% ✓ Higher | 9.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 39 ✓ Safer | 78 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 35 ✓ Safer | 63 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 46 ✓ Safer | 100 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | B- (92) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 47.1% ✓ Higher | 29.8% |
| High School or Higher | 96.3% ✓ Higher | 86.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Gilbert Unified District (4239) | West Covina Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.6°F | 67.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 104.2°F ✓ Warmer | 90.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.8" ✓ Drier | 16.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 267,267 ✓ Larger | 108,173 |
| Median Age | 35.4 | 39.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 74.7% ✓ Higher | 62.4% |
| Under 18 | 29.4% ✓ More | 19.7% |
| Over 65 | 10.2% | 16.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Gilbert's cost of living index is 102.5 vs West Covina's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Gilbert is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Gilbert leads 19 of 22 categories. Gilbert wins 19 and West Covina wins 3. 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 West Covina or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($454,300 vs $664,500 median home), income ($115,179 vs $96,219), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Gilbert, AZ and West Covina, CA are about 358 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.