City comparison
No. Gilbert's crime index is 47 versus 212 in Aurora, and its violent crime index is 37 versus 248, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Aurora is cheaper. Median rent is $1,835 a month versus $2,110 in Gilbert.
Safety is where Aurora and Gilbert split most clearly. Gilbert scores 165 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,835 in Aurora and $2,110 in Gilbert.
Gilbert is not a close call here. It leads on the job market, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Aurora 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 Aurora has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Aurora and Gilbert are 585 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,835 a month in Aurora to $2,110 a month in Gilbert, up $275 a month (15%).
Median household income goes from $88,368 in Aurora to $122,551 in Gilbert, up $34,183 (39%).
The crime index goes from 212 in Aurora to 47 in Gilbert, down 165 points (78%).
The move
Gilbert and Aurora are 585 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $2,110 a month in Gilbert to $1,835 a month in Aurora, down $275 a month (13%).
Median household income goes from $122,551 in Gilbert to $88,368 in Aurora, down $34,183 (28%).
The crime index goes from 47 in Gilbert to 212 in Aurora, up 165 points (351%).
Aurora, CO
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 Aurora and Gilbert? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
13% cheaper
Aurora rent is 13% cheaper than Gilbert
Aurora
Winner$1,835/mo
Gilbert
$2,110/mo
Typical rent runs $1,835 a month in Aurora versus $2,110 in Gilbert, so Aurora is 13% cheaper. A meaningful but not dramatic gap. Factor it into your budget alongside salary differences between the two markets. Over a year the spread is about $3,300, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Aurora still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Gilbert.
Planning to buy in Gilbert? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
39% higher
Gilbert's median income is 39% higher than Aurora
Aurora
$88,368
Gilbert
Winner$122,551
Median household income is $122,551 in Gilbert versus $88,368 in Aurora, so typical pay runs 39% higher in Gilbert (about $34,183 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. Aurora can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
78% lower crime
Gilbert's crime index is 78% lower than Aurora
Aurora
212 (100 = avg)
Gilbert
Winner47 (100 = avg)
Gilbert's crime index is 47 versus 212 in Aurora (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 78% 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. Aurora can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
12% more comfortable
Gilbert weather is 12% more comfortable than Aurora
Aurora
61°F avg · 71°F highs · comfort 89/100
Gilbert
Winner80°F avg · 87°F highs · comfort 100/100
Aurora averages about 61°F (71°F highs); Gilbert averages about 80°F (87°F highs). Aurora averages around 61°F. Gilbert sits near 80°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Gilbert scores 12% closer to the 65-80°F comfort band on this page, so it is the easier default for year-round outdoor errands and evenings. Choose Aurora if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
Fit check
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Aurora
Aurora is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 13% cheaper here at about $1,835 a month. Choose Aurora if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside plus year-round outdoor access
It is also a match for career-focused movers who want salary upside and year-round outdoor access. Median household income runs 39% higher ($122,551), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 80°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Gilbert is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 78% lower than Aurora (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
Safety is the widest gap: Gilbert scores 83/100 versus 37/100 in Aurora. Rent is $2,110/month in Gilbert and $1,835/month in Aurora, so you are not buying calm streets for free.
Aurora rent at $1,835/month is still below Gilbert's $2,110, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Weather averages land near 61°F in Aurora and 80°F in Gilbert.
Between Aurora and Gilbert, Gilbert is ahead on safety — 83/100 safety versus 37/100. Lean Aurora instead when you already know the Aurora block you would live on and the safety gap is acceptable.
Common questions
Ready to move to Gilbert?
Next steps
Quotes and listings for Gilbert when you're ready to act.
Keep researching
Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Aurora and Gilbert, plus other cities in CO and AZ.
