City comparison
No. Gilbert's crime index is 47 versus 135 in Jersey City, and its violent crime index is 37 versus 152, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Jersey City is cheaper. Median rent is $2,007 a month versus $2,110 in Gilbert.
Safety is where Jersey City and Gilbert split most clearly. Gilbert scores 88 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $2,007 in Jersey City 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. Jersey City 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 Jersey City has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Jersey City and Gilbert are 2,124 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $2,007 a month in Jersey City to $2,110 a month in Gilbert, up $103 a month (5%).
Median household income goes from $97,710 in Jersey City to $122,551 in Gilbert, up $24,841 (25%).
The crime index goes from 135 in Jersey City to 47 in Gilbert, down 88 points (65%).
The move
Gilbert and Jersey City are 2,124 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $2,110 a month in Gilbert to $2,007 a month in Jersey City, down $103 a month (5%).
Median household income goes from $122,551 in Gilbert to $97,710 in Jersey City, down $24,841 (20%).
The crime index goes from 47 in Gilbert to 135 in Jersey City, up 88 points (187%).
Jersey City, NJ
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 Jersey City and Gilbert? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
5% cheaper
Jersey City rent is 5% cheaper than Gilbert
Jersey City
Winner$2,007/mo
Gilbert
$2,110/mo
Typical rent runs $2,007 a month in Jersey City versus $2,110 in Gilbert, so Jersey City is 5% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $103, or $1,236 a year: noticeable, but rent alone should not pick the city. Use this as a tie-breaker after you compare income, schools, and crime, unless you are already stretching every dollar.
Planning to buy in Gilbert? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
25% higher
Gilbert's median income is 25% higher than Jersey City
Jersey City
$97,710
Gilbert
Winner$122,551
Median household income is $122,551 in Gilbert versus $97,710 in Jersey City, so typical pay runs 25% higher in Gilbert (about $24,841 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. Jersey City can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
65% lower crime
Gilbert's crime index is 65% lower than Jersey City
Jersey City
135 (100 = avg)
Gilbert
Winner47 (100 = avg)
Gilbert's crime index is 47 versus 135 in Jersey City (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 65% 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. Jersey City can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
52% more comfortable
Gilbert weather is 52% more comfortable than Jersey City
Jersey City
53°F avg · 58°F highs · comfort 66/100
Gilbert
Winner80°F avg · 87°F highs · comfort 100/100
Jersey City averages about 53°F (58°F highs); Gilbert averages about 80°F (87°F highs). Jersey City averages around 53°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Gilbert sits near 80°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Gilbert scores 52% 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 Jersey City 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 Jersey City
Jersey City is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 5% cheaper here at about $2,007 a month. Choose Jersey City 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 25% 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 65% lower than Jersey City (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 51/100 in Jersey City. Rent is $2,110/month in Gilbert and $2,007/month in Jersey City, so you are not buying calm streets for free.
Safety still diverges (83/100 in Gilbert vs 51/100 in Jersey City), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Median income is $122,551 in Gilbert versus $97,710 in Jersey City.
Most movers who prioritize safety land in Gilbert; Jersey City only makes sense when you have walked the Jersey City ZIP you would rent and accept the trade for $2,007 rent.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Jersey City and Gilbert, plus other cities in NJ and AZ.
