City comparison
No. Gilbert's crime index is 47 versus 143 in Anaheim, and its violent crime index is 37 versus 165, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Gilbert is cheaper. Median rent is $2,110 a month versus $2,175 in Anaheim.
Safety is where Anaheim and Gilbert split most clearly. Gilbert scores 96 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $2,175 in Anaheim and $2,110 in Gilbert.
Gilbert is not a close call here. It leads on cost of living, the job market, and safety by margins that add up in daily life. Anaheim makes sense if you have a specific reason, a job offer, family, or a neighborhood you already know, but on the numbers alone Gilbert is the stronger move.
The crime gap is citywide. Gilbert has rougher pockets and Anaheim has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Anaheim and Gilbert are 354 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $2,175 a month in Anaheim to $2,110 a month in Gilbert, down $65 a month (3%).
Median household income goes from $95,227 in Anaheim to $122,551 in Gilbert, up $27,324 (29%).
The crime index goes from 143 in Anaheim to 47 in Gilbert, down 96 points (67%).
The move
Gilbert and Anaheim are 354 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $2,110 a month in Gilbert to $2,175 a month in Anaheim, up $65 a month (3%).
Median household income goes from $122,551 in Gilbert to $95,227 in Anaheim, down $27,324 (22%).
The crime index goes from 47 in Gilbert to 143 in Anaheim, up 96 points (204%).
Anaheim, CA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Gilbert, AZ
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Anaheim and Gilbert? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
3% cheaper
Gilbert rent is 3% cheaper than Anaheim
Anaheim
$2,175/mo
Gilbert
Winner$2,110/mo
Typical rent runs $2,110 a month in Gilbert versus $2,175 in Anaheim, so Gilbert is 3% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $65, or $780 a year: noticeable, but rent alone should not pick the city. Use this as a tie-breaker after you compare income, schools, and crime, unless you are already stretching every dollar.
Planning to buy in Gilbert? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
29% higher
Gilbert's median income is 29% higher than Anaheim
Anaheim
$95,227
Gilbert
Winner$122,551
Median household income is $122,551 in Gilbert versus $95,227 in Anaheim, so typical pay runs 29% higher in Gilbert (about $27,324 more household income a year). Higher median income usually signals a stronger local job market and better negotiating leverage on salary. Remote workers should weigh this against cost of living rather than treating it as a direct personal benefit. For people who will actually work in town, Gilbert is the stronger labor market on paper. Anaheim can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
67% lower crime
Gilbert's crime index is 67% lower than Anaheim
Anaheim
143 (100 = avg)
Gilbert
Winner47 (100 = avg)
Gilbert's crime index is 47 versus 143 in Anaheim (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 67% lower in Gilbert. That gap is meaningful day-to-day. It affects whether you feel comfortable walking at night, leaving your car on the street, or letting kids play outside unsupervised. Indexes still compress a lot of reality: a calmer city has blocks you would skip, and a higher-crime city has streets that feel neighborly at 10 p.m. On the everyday test of walking from the car to the door, Gilbert is the easier city. Anaheim can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
Neck and neck
Anaheim and Gilbert are about even on typical weather.
Anaheim
76°F avg · 83°F highs · comfort 100/100
Gilbert
80°F avg · 87°F highs · comfort 100/100
Anaheim averages about 76°F (83°F highs); Gilbert averages about 80°F (87°F highs). Anaheim sits near 76°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Gilbert sits near 80°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. On daily comfort these two are close enough that the better fit is whichever season you already know you can live with.
Fit check
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Anaheim
On these five categories Gilbert takes the scoreboard, so you should not choose Anaheim because the stats are kinder. They are not. Choose Anaheim only if a job offer, family, a specific neighborhood, or a life you already started there outweighs the box score. Plenty of good moves ignore the aggregate; just do it on purpose.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Gilbert is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 3% cheaper here at about $2,110 a month. Choose Gilbert if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Gilbert is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 29% higher here ($122,551). Start with Gilbert if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Gilbert is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 67% lower than Anaheim (47 vs a 100 national average). That gap shows up in how freely you walk at night and how much attention you spend on the car and the deadbolt.
Bottom line
Crime and safety tilt toward Gilbert: Gilbert scores 83/100 versus 49/100 in Anaheim, with typical rent at $2,110 versus $2,175. I would vet the exact ZIP in Anaheim before trading 34 safety points for housing savings.
With only $65 separating typical rent, run both offer letters before housing cost alone picks the city.
Typical rent stays $2,110 in Gilbert and $2,175 in Anaheim.
Gilbert clears the bar on safety in this dataset. Anaheim deserves a serious look only when you already know the Anaheim block you would live on and the safety gap is acceptable.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Anaheim and Gilbert, plus other cities in CA and AZ.
