City comparison
No. Gilbert's crime index is 47 versus 147 in Boston, and its violent crime index is 37 versus 175, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Gilbert is cheaper. Median rent is $2,110 a month versus $2,147 in Boston.
Safety is where Boston and Gilbert split most clearly. Gilbert scores 100 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $2,147 in Boston and $2,110 in Gilbert.
Gilbert is not a close call here. It leads on cost of living, the job market, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Boston 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 Boston has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Boston and Gilbert are 2,284 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $2,147 a month in Boston to $2,110 a month in Gilbert, down $37 a month (2%).
Median household income goes from $97,344 in Boston to $122,551 in Gilbert, up $25,207 (26%).
The crime index goes from 147 in Boston to 47 in Gilbert, down 100 points (68%).
The move
Gilbert and Boston are 2,284 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $2,110 a month in Gilbert to $2,147 a month in Boston, up $37 a month (2%).
Median household income goes from $122,551 in Gilbert to $97,344 in Boston, down $25,207 (21%).
The crime index goes from 47 in Gilbert to 147 in Boston, up 100 points (213%).
Boston, MA
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 Boston and Gilbert? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
2% cheaper
Gilbert rent is 2% cheaper than Boston
Boston
$2,147/mo
Gilbert
Winner$2,110/mo
Typical rent runs $2,110 a month in Gilbert versus $2,147 in Boston, so Gilbert is 2% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $37, or $444 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
26% higher
Gilbert's median income is 26% higher than Boston
Boston
$97,344
Gilbert
Winner$122,551
Median household income is $122,551 in Gilbert versus $97,344 in Boston, so typical pay runs 26% higher in Gilbert (about $25,207 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. Boston can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
68% lower crime
Gilbert's crime index is 68% lower than Boston
Boston
147 (100 = avg)
Gilbert
Winner47 (100 = avg)
Gilbert's crime index is 47 versus 147 in Boston (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 68% 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. Boston can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
56% more comfortable
Gilbert weather is 56% more comfortable than Boston
Boston
52°F avg · 58°F highs · comfort 64/100
Gilbert
Winner80°F avg · 87°F highs · comfort 100/100
Boston averages about 52°F (58°F highs); Gilbert averages about 80°F (87°F highs). Boston averages around 52°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Gilbert sits near 80°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Gilbert scores 56% 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 Boston 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 Boston
On these five categories Gilbert takes the scoreboard, so you should not choose Boston because the stats are kinder. They are not. Choose Boston 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 plus year-round outdoor access
Gilbert is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 2% 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.
It is also a match for career-focused movers who want salary upside and year-round outdoor access. Median household income runs 26% 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 68% lower than Boston (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
Boston carries the heavier crime signal on this page (48/100 safety vs 83/100 in Gilbert). That 35-point spread matters more than the $37 rent gap when you are choosing where to walk after dark.
Safety still diverges (83/100 in Gilbert vs 48/100 in Boston), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Median income is $122,551 in Gilbert versus $97,344 in Boston.
If safety drives your move, Gilbert is the stronger match (83/100 safety versus 48/100). If an employer or family tie already points to Boston, treat $2,147/month rent and $97,344 income as the numbers that actually govern the decision.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
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