City comparison
Yes. Gilbert's crime index is 47 versus 240 in Anchorage, and its violent crime index is 37 versus 295, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Anchorage is cheaper. Median rent is $1,489 a month versus $2,110 in Gilbert.
Climate is the sharpest divide between Gilbert and Anchorage. Gilbert averages 80°F while Anchorage averages 37°F, a difference that affects utility bills, outdoor lifestyle, and how you feel nine months of the year. Rent runs $2,110 versus $1,489.
Gilbert is not a close call here. It leads on the job market, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Anchorage 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. Anchorage at $1,489 average has pockets that run $1,289 and others at $1,889: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Gilbert and Anchorage are 2,559 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $2,110 a month in Gilbert to $1,489 a month in Anchorage, down $621 a month (29%).
Median household income goes from $122,551 in Gilbert to $103,284 in Anchorage, down $19,267 (16%).
The crime index goes from 47 in Gilbert to 240 in Anchorage, up 193 points (411%).
The move
Anchorage and Gilbert are 2,559 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,489 a month in Anchorage to $2,110 a month in Gilbert, up $621 a month (42%).
Median household income goes from $103,284 in Anchorage to $122,551 in Gilbert, up $19,267 (19%).
The crime index goes from 240 in Anchorage to 47 in Gilbert, down 193 points (80%).
Gilbert, AZ
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Anchorage, AK
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Gilbert and Anchorage? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
29% cheaper
Anchorage rent is 29% cheaper than Gilbert
Gilbert
$2,110/mo
Anchorage
Winner$1,489/mo
Typical rent runs $1,489 a month in Anchorage versus $2,110 in Gilbert, so Anchorage is 29% cheaper. That's roughly $621/month back in your pocket ($7,452/year). Over five years that's $37,260 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, Anchorage 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
19% higher
Gilbert's median income is 19% higher than Anchorage
Gilbert
Winner$122,551
Anchorage
$103,284
Median household income is $122,551 in Gilbert versus $103,284 in Anchorage, so typical pay runs 19% higher in Gilbert (about $19,267 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. Anchorage can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
80% lower crime
Gilbert's crime index is 80% lower than Anchorage
Gilbert
Winner47 (100 = avg)
Anchorage
240 (100 = avg)
Gilbert's crime index is 47 versus 240 in Anchorage (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 80% 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. Anchorage can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
355% more comfortable
Gilbert weather is 355% more comfortable than Anchorage
Gilbert
Winner80°F avg · 87°F highs · comfort 100/100
Anchorage
37°F avg · 42°F highs · comfort 22/100
Gilbert averages about 80°F (87°F highs); Anchorage averages about 37°F (42°F highs). Gilbert sits near 80°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Anchorage averages around 37°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Gilbert scores 355% 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 Anchorage if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
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 19% 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 80% lower than Anchorage (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.
Fit check
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Anchorage
Anchorage is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 29% cheaper here at about $1,489 a month. Choose Anchorage if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Bottom line
Safety is the widest gap: Gilbert scores 83/100 versus 33/100 in Anchorage. Rent is $2,110/month in Gilbert and $1,489/month in Anchorage, so you are not buying calm streets for free.
Safety still diverges (83/100 in Gilbert vs 33/100 in Anchorage), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Typical rent stays $1,489 in Anchorage and $2,110 in Gilbert.
Most movers who prioritize safety land in Gilbert; Anchorage only makes sense when you have walked the Anchorage ZIP you would rent and accept the trade for $1,489 rent.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Gilbert and Anchorage, plus other cities in AZ and AK.
