City comparison
No. Gilbert's crime index is 47 versus 162 in Austin, and its violent crime index is 37 versus 130, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Austin is cheaper. Median rent is $1,729 a month versus $2,110 in Gilbert.
Safety is where Austin and Gilbert split most clearly. Gilbert scores 115 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,729 in Austin and $2,110 in Gilbert.
This is a genuine split. Austin wins on cost of living and Gilbert wins on the job market and safety. Which matters more depends entirely on how you live: remote workers and families weight these categories differently than commuters or single professionals.
The rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. Austin at $1,729 average has pockets that run $1,529 and others at $2,129: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Austin and Gilbert are 851 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,729 a month in Austin to $2,110 a month in Gilbert, up $381 a month (22%).
Median household income goes from $93,658 in Austin to $122,551 in Gilbert, up $28,893 (31%).
The crime index goes from 162 in Austin to 47 in Gilbert, down 115 points (71%).
The move
Gilbert and Austin are 851 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $2,110 a month in Gilbert to $1,729 a month in Austin, down $381 a month (18%).
Median household income goes from $122,551 in Gilbert to $93,658 in Austin, down $28,893 (24%).
The crime index goes from 47 in Gilbert to 162 in Austin, up 115 points (245%).
Austin, TX
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 Austin and Gilbert? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
18% cheaper
Austin rent is 18% cheaper than Gilbert
Austin
Winner$1,729/mo
Gilbert
$2,110/mo
Typical rent runs $1,729 a month in Austin versus $2,110 in Gilbert, so Austin is 18% 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 $4,572, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Austin 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
31% higher
Gilbert's median income is 31% higher than Austin
Austin
$93,658
Gilbert
Winner$122,551
Median household income is $122,551 in Gilbert versus $93,658 in Austin, so typical pay runs 31% higher in Gilbert (about $28,893 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. Austin can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
71% lower crime
Gilbert's crime index is 71% lower than Austin
Austin
162 (100 = avg)
Gilbert
Winner47 (100 = avg)
Gilbert's crime index is 47 versus 162 in Austin (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 71% 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. Austin can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
Neck and neck
Austin and Gilbert are about even on typical weather.
Austin
68°F avg · 76°F highs · comfort 100/100
Gilbert
80°F avg · 87°F highs · comfort 100/100
Austin averages about 68°F (76°F highs); Gilbert averages about 80°F (87°F highs). Austin sits near 68°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 Austin
Austin is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 18% cheaper here at about $1,729 a month. Choose Austin 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 and professional growth
Gilbert is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 31% 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 71% lower than Austin (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 45/100 in Austin. Rent is $2,110/month in Gilbert and $1,729/month in Austin, so you are not buying calm streets for free.
Austin rent at $1,729/month is still below Gilbert's $2,110, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Typical rent stays $1,729 in Austin and $2,110 in Gilbert.
Between Austin and Gilbert, Gilbert is ahead on safety — 83/100 safety versus 45/100. Lean Austin instead when you already know the Austin block you would live on and the safety gap is acceptable.
Common questions
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Next steps
Quotes and listings for Gilbert when you're ready to act.
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Austin and Gilbert, plus other cities in TX and AZ.
