City comparison
No. Gilbert's crime index is 47 versus 200 in Colorado Springs, and its violent crime index is 37 versus 204, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Colorado Springs is cheaper. Median rent is $1,648 a month versus $2,110 in Gilbert.
Safety is where Colorado Springs and Gilbert split most clearly. Gilbert scores 153 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,648 in Colorado Springs 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. Colorado Springs 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 rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. Colorado Springs at $1,648 average has pockets that run $1,448 and others at $2,048: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Colorado Springs and Gilbert are 543 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,648 a month in Colorado Springs to $2,110 a month in Gilbert, up $462 a month (28%).
Median household income goes from $84,818 in Colorado Springs to $122,551 in Gilbert, up $37,733 (44%).
The crime index goes from 200 in Colorado Springs to 47 in Gilbert, down 153 points (77%).
The move
Gilbert and Colorado Springs are 543 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $2,110 a month in Gilbert to $1,648 a month in Colorado Springs, down $462 a month (22%).
Median household income goes from $122,551 in Gilbert to $84,818 in Colorado Springs, down $37,733 (31%).
The crime index goes from 47 in Gilbert to 200 in Colorado Springs, up 153 points (326%).
Colorado Springs, 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 Colorado Springs and Gilbert? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
22% cheaper
Colorado Springs rent is 22% cheaper than Gilbert
Colorado Springs
Winner$1,648/mo
Gilbert
$2,110/mo
Typical rent runs $1,648 a month in Colorado Springs versus $2,110 in Gilbert, so Colorado Springs is 22% cheaper. That's roughly $462/month back in your pocket ($5,544/year). Over five years that's $27,720 you could redirect toward a down payment, travel, or investments. Housing is the bill you pay before groceries, childcare, or a social life, so that gap shows up in how often you eat out and how panicked a rent hike feels. If you already have a high-paying offer in Gilbert, the extra rent can be rational. If you do not, Colorado Springs is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.
Planning to buy in Gilbert? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
44% higher
Gilbert's median income is 44% higher than Colorado Springs
Colorado Springs
$84,818
Gilbert
Winner$122,551
Median household income is $122,551 in Gilbert versus $84,818 in Colorado Springs, so typical pay runs 44% higher in Gilbert (about $37,733 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. Colorado Springs can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
77% lower crime
Gilbert's crime index is 77% lower than Colorado Springs
Colorado Springs
200 (100 = avg)
Gilbert
Winner47 (100 = avg)
Gilbert's crime index is 47 versus 200 in Colorado Springs (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 77% 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. Colorado Springs can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
39% more comfortable
Gilbert weather is 39% more comfortable than Colorado Springs
Colorado Springs
55°F avg · 63°F highs · comfort 72/100
Gilbert
Winner80°F avg · 87°F highs · comfort 100/100
Colorado Springs averages about 55°F (63°F highs); Gilbert averages about 80°F (87°F highs). Colorado Springs averages around 55°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 39% 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 Colorado Springs 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 Colorado Springs
Colorado Springs is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 22% cheaper here at about $1,648 a month. Choose Colorado Springs 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 44% 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 77% lower than Colorado Springs (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 39/100 in Colorado Springs. Rent is $2,110/month in Gilbert and $1,648/month in Colorado Springs, so you are not buying calm streets for free.
Safety still diverges (83/100 in Gilbert vs 39/100 in Colorado Springs), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Median income is $122,551 in Gilbert versus $84,818 in Colorado Springs.
Most movers who prioritize safety land in Gilbert; Colorado Springs only makes sense when you have walked the Colorado Springs ZIP you would rent and accept the trade for $1,648 rent.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Colorado Springs and Gilbert, plus other cities in CO and AZ.
