Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Gilbert, AZ
VS
Yakima, WA
🏆 Gilbert leads 17 of 23 categories
Gilbert
Arizona
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$115,179 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
35 ✓ Safer
Population
267,267 ✓ Larger
Yakima
Washington
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$55,734
Violent Crime Index
143⚠ High
Population
96,764
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Gilbert, AZ
Pros
Households earn $59,445 more per year on average
76% less violent crime than Yakima
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.6 pts lower (3.5%)
More college-educated — 47.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (132.2 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 40°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $454,300
Higher rents — median is $1,839/mo
Hot summers — July highs average 104°F
Yakima, WA
Pros
Homes cost $211k less ($243,300 vs $454,300)
Rent averages $825/mo less ($1,014 vs $1,839)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 88°F vs 104°F
Cons
Median income trails Gilbert by $59,445/yr
Violent crime (544.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (8.1% vs 3.5%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Gilbert
Median Income
$59,445
$115,179 vs $55,734/yr
Gilbert
Violent Crime
76% lower
132.2 vs 544.3 per 100k
Gilbert
Unemployment
4.6 pp lower
3.5% vs 8.1% unemployment
Gilbert
Summer Heat
15.9°F warmer
July avg high 104.2°F vs 88.3°F
Yakima
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 101.6 vs 102.5 (100 = US avg)
Yakima
Median Home Value
$211k less
$243,300 vs $454,300
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Gilbert, AZ | Yakima, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.5⚠ High | 101.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $454,300⚠ High | $243,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,839⚠ High | $1,014 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $115,179 ✓ Higher | $55,734 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.5% ✓ Lower | 8.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.7 min | 17.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 20.5% ✓ Higher | 5.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 39 ✓ Safer | 125⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 35 ✓ Safer | 143⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 46 ✓ Safer | 97 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | C (79) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 47.1% ✓ Higher | 19.3% |
| High School or Higher | 96.3% ✓ Higher | 77.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Gilbert Unified District (4239) | Yakima School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.6°F ✓ Warmer | 39.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 104.2°F ✓ Warmer | 88.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.8" | 8.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 20.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 267,267 ✓ Larger | 96,764 |
| Median Age | 35.4 ✓ Older | 33.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 74.7% ✓ Higher | 53.1% |
| Under 18 | 29.4% ✓ More | 27.8% |
| Over 65 | 10.2% | 15.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Gilbert's cost of living index is 102.5 vs Yakima's 101.6 (US average = 100).
Yakima is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Gilbert leads 17 of 23 categories. Gilbert wins 17 and Yakima 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 Yakima or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($454,300 vs $243,300 median home), income ($115,179 vs $55,734), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Gilbert, AZ and Yakima, WA are about 1,028 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.