City comparison
Yes. Gilbert's crime index is 47 versus 165 in St Petersburg, and its violent crime index is 37 versus 167, using 2024-2025 FBI data for Gilbert and 2023 FBI data for St Petersburg.
St Petersburg is cheaper. Median rent is $1,663 a month versus $2,110 in Gilbert.
Safety is where Gilbert and St Petersburg split most clearly. Gilbert scores 118 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $2,110 in Gilbert and $1,663 in St Petersburg.
This is a genuine split. Gilbert wins on the job market and safety and St Petersburg wins on cost of living. 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. St Petersburg at $1,663 average has pockets that run $1,463 and others at $2,063: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Gilbert and St Petersburg are 1,764 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $2,110 a month in Gilbert to $1,663 a month in St Petersburg, down $447 a month (21%).
Median household income goes from $122,551 in Gilbert to $75,192 in St Petersburg, down $47,359 (39%).
The crime index goes from 47 in Gilbert to 165 in St Petersburg, up 118 points (251%).
The move
St Petersburg and Gilbert are 1,764 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,663 a month in St Petersburg to $2,110 a month in Gilbert, up $447 a month (27%).
Median household income goes from $75,192 in St Petersburg to $122,551 in Gilbert, up $47,359 (63%).
The crime index goes from 165 in St Petersburg to 47 in Gilbert, down 118 points (72%).
Gilbert, AZ
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
St Petersburg, FL
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Gilbert and St Petersburg? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
21% cheaper
St Petersburg rent is 21% cheaper than Gilbert
Gilbert
$2,110/mo
St Petersburg
Winner$1,663/mo
Typical rent runs $1,663 a month in St Petersburg versus $2,110 in Gilbert, so St Petersburg is 21% cheaper. That's roughly $447/month back in your pocket ($5,364/year). Over five years that's $26,820 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, St Petersburg 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
63% higher
Gilbert's median income is 63% higher than St Petersburg
Gilbert
Winner$122,551
St Petersburg
$75,192
Median household income is $122,551 in Gilbert versus $75,192 in St Petersburg, so typical pay runs 63% higher in Gilbert (about $47,359 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. St Petersburg 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 St Petersburg
Gilbert
Winner47 (100 = avg)
St Petersburg
165 (100 = avg)
Gilbert's crime index is 47 versus 165 in St Petersburg (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. St Petersburg can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
Neck and neck
Gilbert and St Petersburg are about even on typical weather.
Gilbert
80°F avg · 87°F highs · comfort 100/100
St Petersburg
77°F avg · 82°F highs · comfort 100/100
Gilbert averages about 80°F (87°F highs); St Petersburg averages about 77°F (82°F highs). Gilbert sits near 80°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. St Petersburg sits near 77°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
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 63% 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 72% lower than St Petersburg (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 St Petersburg
St Petersburg is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 21% cheaper here at about $1,663 a month. Choose St Petersburg if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Bottom line
St Petersburg carries the heavier crime signal on this page (45/100 safety vs 83/100 in Gilbert). That 38-point spread matters more than the $447 rent gap when you are choosing where to walk after dark.
St Petersburg rent at $1,663/month is still below Gilbert's $2,110, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Typical rent stays $1,663 in St Petersburg and $2,110 in Gilbert.
Gilbert clears the bar on safety in this dataset. St Petersburg deserves a serious look only when you already know the St Petersburg block you would live on and the safety gap is acceptable.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Gilbert and St Petersburg, plus other cities in AZ and FL.
