Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Gilbert, AZ
VS
West Palm Beach, FL
🏆 Gilbert leads 15 of 22 categories
Gilbert
Arizona
15
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 Palm Beach
Florida
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,044
Violent Crime Index
152⚠ High
Population
117,588
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Gilbert, AZ
Pros
Households earn $51,135 more per year on average
77% less violent crime than West Palm Beach
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.7 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
9% cheaper overall cost of living than West Palm Beach
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $454,300
Higher rents — median is $1,839/mo
Hot summers — July highs average 104°F
West Palm Beach, FL
Pros
Homes cost $130k less ($324,800 vs $454,300)
Rent averages $225/mo less ($1,614 vs $1,839)
Cooler summers — July highs near 90°F vs 104°F
Milder winters — January highs near 75°F vs 66°F
Cons
Median income trails Gilbert by $51,135/yr
Violent crime (575.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Higher unemployment (6.2% vs 3.5%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Gilbert
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 102.5 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
Gilbert
Median Income
$51,135
$115,179 vs $64,044/yr
Gilbert
Violent Crime
77% lower
132.2 vs 575.8 per 100k
Gilbert
Unemployment
2.7 pp lower
3.5% vs 6.2% unemployment
Gilbert
Summer Heat
14.2°F warmer
July avg high 104.2°F vs 90.0°F
West Palm Beach
Median Home Value
$130k less
$324,800 vs $454,300
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Gilbert, AZ | West Palm Beach, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 111.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $454,300⚠ High | $324,800⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,839⚠ High | $1,614⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $115,179 ✓ Higher | $64,044 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.5% ✓ Lower | 6.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.7 min | 23.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 20.5% ✓ Higher | 11.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 39 ✓ Safer | 132⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 35 ✓ Safer | 152⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 46 ✓ Safer | 102⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | B (103) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.5:1 | 16.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 47.1% ✓ Higher | 37.5% |
| High School or Higher | 96.3% ✓ Higher | 86.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Gilbert Unified District (4239) | PALM BEACH |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.6°F | 74.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 104.2°F ✓ Warmer | 90.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.8" ✓ Drier | 61.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 267,267 ✓ Larger | 117,588 |
| Median Age | 35.4 | 40.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 74.7% ✓ Higher | 49.8% |
| Under 18 | 29.4% ✓ More | 17.6% |
| Over 65 | 10.2% | 19.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Gilbert's cost of living index is 102.5 vs West Palm Beach's 111.8 (US average = 100).
Gilbert is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Gilbert leads 15 of 22 categories. Gilbert wins 15 and West Palm Beach wins 7. 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 Palm Beach or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($454,300 vs $324,800 median home), income ($115,179 vs $64,044), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Gilbert, AZ and West Palm Beach, FL are about 1,937 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.