City comparison
No. Gilbert's crime index is 47 versus 87 in El Paso, and its violent crime index is 37 versus 88, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
El Paso is cheaper. Median rent is $1,073 a month versus $2,110 in Gilbert.
The income gap between El Paso and Gilbert is significant: $59,745 median household versus $122,551. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $1,073 in El Paso and $2,110 in Gilbert.
This is a genuine split. El Paso 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. El Paso at $1,073 average has pockets that run $873 and others at $1,473: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
El Paso and Gilbert are 328 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,073 a month in El Paso to $2,110 a month in Gilbert, up $1,037 a month (97%).
Median household income goes from $59,745 in El Paso to $122,551 in Gilbert, up $62,806 (105%).
The crime index goes from 87 in El Paso to 47 in Gilbert, down 40 points (46%).
The move
Gilbert and El Paso are 328 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $2,110 a month in Gilbert to $1,073 a month in El Paso, down $1,037 a month (49%).
Median household income goes from $122,551 in Gilbert to $59,745 in El Paso, down $62,806 (51%).
The crime index goes from 47 in Gilbert to 87 in El Paso, up 40 points (85%).
El Paso, 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 El Paso and Gilbert? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
49% cheaper
El Paso rent is 49% cheaper than Gilbert
El Paso
Winner$1,073/mo
Gilbert
$2,110/mo
Typical rent runs $1,073 a month in El Paso versus $2,110 in Gilbert, so El Paso is 49% cheaper. That's roughly $1,037/month back in your pocket ($12,444/year). Over five years that's $62,220 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, El Paso 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
105% higher
Gilbert's median income is 105% higher than El Paso
El Paso
$59,745
Gilbert
Winner$122,551
Median household income is $122,551 in Gilbert versus $59,745 in El Paso, so typical pay runs 105% higher in Gilbert (about $62,806 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. El Paso can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
46% lower crime
Gilbert's crime index is 46% lower than El Paso
El Paso
87 (100 = avg)
Gilbert
Winner47 (100 = avg)
Gilbert's crime index is 47 versus 87 in El Paso (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 46% 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. El Paso can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
Neck and neck
El Paso and Gilbert are about even on typical weather.
El Paso
66°F avg · 72°F highs · comfort 100/100
Gilbert
80°F avg · 87°F highs · comfort 100/100
El Paso averages about 66°F (72°F highs); Gilbert averages about 80°F (87°F highs). El Paso sits near 66°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 El Paso
El Paso is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 49% cheaper here at about $1,073 a month. Choose El Paso 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 105% 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 46% lower than El Paso (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
Rent is the clearest fork: El Paso at $1,073/month versus $2,110 in Gilbert ($1,037 apart). Gilbert median income is $122,551 against $59,745 in El Paso, so the cheaper lease does not always pair with the stronger local wage base.
El Paso rent at $1,073/month is still below Gilbert's $2,110, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Safety scores read 64/100 in El Paso and 83/100 in Gilbert.
Pick El Paso when shaving $1,037 off rent at $1,073/month is the priority. Otherwise, Gilbert's case rests on $2,110/month rent with $122,551 local income.
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 El Paso and Gilbert, plus other cities in TX and AZ.
