City comparison
No. Gilbert's crime index is 47 versus 434 in Oakland, and its violent crime index is 37 versus 491, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Oakland is cheaper. Median rent is $1,979 a month versus $2,110 in Gilbert.
Safety is where Oakland and Gilbert split most clearly. Gilbert scores 387 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,979 in Oakland and $2,110 in Gilbert.
This is a genuine split. Oakland 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 crime gap is citywide. Gilbert has rougher pockets and Oakland has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Oakland and Gilbert are 664 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,979 a month in Oakland to $2,110 a month in Gilbert, up $131 a month (7%).
Median household income goes from $101,600 in Oakland to $122,551 in Gilbert, up $20,951 (21%).
The crime index goes from 434 in Oakland to 47 in Gilbert, down 387 points (89%).
The move
Gilbert and Oakland are 664 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $2,110 a month in Gilbert to $1,979 a month in Oakland, down $131 a month (6%).
Median household income goes from $122,551 in Gilbert to $101,600 in Oakland, down $20,951 (17%).
The crime index goes from 47 in Gilbert to 434 in Oakland, up 387 points (823%).
Oakland, CA
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 Oakland and Gilbert? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
6% cheaper
Oakland rent is 6% cheaper than Gilbert
Oakland
Winner$1,979/mo
Gilbert
$2,110/mo
Typical rent runs $1,979 a month in Oakland versus $2,110 in Gilbert, so Oakland is 6% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $131, or $1,572 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
21% higher
Gilbert's median income is 21% higher than Oakland
Oakland
$101,600
Gilbert
Winner$122,551
Median household income is $122,551 in Gilbert versus $101,600 in Oakland, so typical pay runs 21% higher in Gilbert (about $20,951 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. Oakland can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
89% lower crime
Gilbert's crime index is 89% lower than Oakland
Oakland
434 (100 = avg)
Gilbert
Winner47 (100 = avg)
Gilbert's crime index is 47 versus 434 in Oakland (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 89% 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. Oakland can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
Neck and neck
Oakland and Gilbert are about even on typical weather.
Oakland
68°F avg · 80°F highs · comfort 100/100
Gilbert
80°F avg · 87°F highs · comfort 100/100
Oakland averages about 68°F (80°F highs); Gilbert averages about 80°F (87°F highs). Oakland sits near 68°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 Oakland
Oakland is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 6% cheaper here at about $1,979 a month. Choose Oakland 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 21% 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 89% lower than Oakland (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 15/100 in Oakland. Rent is $2,110/month in Gilbert and $1,979/month in Oakland, so you are not buying calm streets for free.
Oakland rent at $1,979/month is still below Gilbert's $2,110, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Weather averages land near 68°F in Oakland and 80°F in Gilbert.
Between Oakland and Gilbert, Gilbert is ahead on safety — 83/100 safety versus 15/100. Lean Oakland instead when you already know the Oakland 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 Oakland and Gilbert, plus other cities in CA and AZ.
