City comparison
Yes. Gilbert's crime index is 47 versus 169 in Richmond, and its violent crime index is 37 versus 122, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Richmond is cheaper. Median rent is $1,372 a month versus $2,110 in Gilbert.
The income gap between Gilbert and Richmond is significant: $122,551 median household versus $64,587. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $2,110 in Gilbert and $1,372 in Richmond.
Gilbert is not a close call here. It leads on the job market, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Richmond 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. Richmond at $1,372 average has pockets that run $1,172 and others at $1,772: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Gilbert and Richmond are 1,943 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $2,110 a month in Gilbert to $1,372 a month in Richmond, down $738 a month (35%).
Median household income goes from $122,551 in Gilbert to $64,587 in Richmond, down $57,964 (47%).
The crime index goes from 47 in Gilbert to 169 in Richmond, up 122 points (260%).
The move
Richmond and Gilbert are 1,943 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,372 a month in Richmond to $2,110 a month in Gilbert, up $738 a month (54%).
Median household income goes from $64,587 in Richmond to $122,551 in Gilbert, up $57,964 (90%).
The crime index goes from 169 in Richmond to 47 in Gilbert, down 122 points (72%).
Gilbert, AZ
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Richmond, VA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Gilbert and Richmond? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
35% cheaper
Richmond rent is 35% cheaper than Gilbert
Gilbert
$2,110/mo
Richmond
Winner$1,372/mo
Typical rent runs $1,372 a month in Richmond versus $2,110 in Gilbert, so Richmond is 35% cheaper. That's roughly $738/month back in your pocket ($8,856/year). Over five years that's $44,280 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, Richmond 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
90% higher
Gilbert's median income is 90% higher than Richmond
Gilbert
Winner$122,551
Richmond
$64,587
Median household income is $122,551 in Gilbert versus $64,587 in Richmond, so typical pay runs 90% higher in Gilbert (about $57,964 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. Richmond can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
72% lower crime
Gilbert's crime index is 72% lower than Richmond
Gilbert
Winner47 (100 = avg)
Richmond
169 (100 = avg)
Gilbert's crime index is 47 versus 169 in Richmond (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 72% 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. Richmond can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
28% more comfortable
Gilbert weather is 28% more comfortable than Richmond
Gilbert
Winner80°F avg · 87°F highs · comfort 100/100
Richmond
57°F avg · 66°F highs · comfort 78/100
Gilbert averages about 80°F (87°F highs); Richmond averages about 57°F (66°F highs). Gilbert sits near 80°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Richmond averages around 57°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Gilbert scores 28% 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 Richmond 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 90% 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 72% lower than Richmond (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 Richmond
Richmond is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 35% cheaper here at about $1,372 a month. Choose Richmond if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Bottom line
Richmond carries the heavier crime signal on this page (44/100 safety vs 83/100 in Gilbert). That 39-point spread matters more than the $738 rent gap when you are choosing where to walk after dark.
Richmond rent at $1,372/month is still below Gilbert's $2,110, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Typical rent stays $1,372 in Richmond and $2,110 in Gilbert.
If safety drives your move, Gilbert is the stronger match (83/100 safety versus 44/100). If an employer or family tie already points to Richmond, treat $1,372/month rent and $64,587 income as the numbers that actually govern the decision.
Common questions
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Nearby research
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