City comparison
No. Gilbert's crime index is 47 versus 271 in Denver, and its violent crime index is 37 versus 272, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Denver is cheaper. Median rent is $1,831 a month versus $2,110 in Gilbert.
Safety is where Denver and Gilbert split most clearly. Gilbert scores 224 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,831 in Denver 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. Denver 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 Denver has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Denver and Gilbert are 580 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,831 a month in Denver to $2,110 a month in Gilbert, up $279 a month (15%).
Median household income goes from $94,718 in Denver to $122,551 in Gilbert, up $27,833 (29%).
The crime index goes from 271 in Denver to 47 in Gilbert, down 224 points (83%).
The move
Gilbert and Denver are 580 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $2,110 a month in Gilbert to $1,831 a month in Denver, down $279 a month (13%).
Median household income goes from $122,551 in Gilbert to $94,718 in Denver, down $27,833 (23%).
The crime index goes from 47 in Gilbert to 271 in Denver, up 224 points (477%).
Denver, 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 Denver and Gilbert? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
13% cheaper
Denver rent is 13% cheaper than Gilbert
Denver
Winner$1,831/mo
Gilbert
$2,110/mo
Typical rent runs $1,831 a month in Denver versus $2,110 in Gilbert, so Denver 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 $3,348, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Denver 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
29% higher
Gilbert's median income is 29% higher than Denver
Denver
$94,718
Gilbert
Winner$122,551
Median household income is $122,551 in Gilbert versus $94,718 in Denver, so typical pay runs 29% higher in Gilbert (about $27,833 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. Denver can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
83% lower crime
Gilbert's crime index is 83% lower than Denver
Denver
271 (100 = avg)
Gilbert
Winner47 (100 = avg)
Gilbert's crime index is 47 versus 271 in Denver (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 83% 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. Denver can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
9% more comfortable
Gilbert weather is 9% more comfortable than Denver
Denver
62°F avg · 71°F highs · comfort 92/100
Gilbert
Winner80°F avg · 87°F highs · comfort 100/100
Denver averages about 62°F (71°F highs); Gilbert averages about 80°F (87°F highs). Denver averages around 62°F. Gilbert sits near 80°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Gilbert scores 9% 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 Denver 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 Denver
Denver is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 13% cheaper here at about $1,831 a month. Choose Denver 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 29% 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 83% lower than Denver (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 30/100 in Denver. Rent is $2,110/month in Gilbert and $1,831/month in Denver, so you are not buying calm streets for free.
Safety still diverges (83/100 in Gilbert vs 30/100 in Denver), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Median income is $122,551 in Gilbert versus $94,718 in Denver.
Gilbert is ahead on safety (83/100 vs 30/100); Denver is still viable when you have a vetted ZIP there and $1,831/month rent plus $94,718 income fit your budget better than the safety margin.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
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