City comparison
Gilbert is safer than Orlando. Gilbert's crime index is 47 versus 242 in Orlando, and its violent crime index is 37 versus 241, using 2024-2025 FBI data for Gilbert, 2022 for Orlando.
Orlando is cheaper. Median rent is $1,747 a month versus $2,110 in Gilbert.
Safety is where Orlando and Gilbert split most clearly. Gilbert scores 195 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,747 in Orlando and $2,110 in Gilbert.
This is a genuine split. Orlando 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 rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. Orlando at $1,747 average has pockets that run $1,547 and others at $2,147: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Orlando and Gilbert are 1,826 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,747 a month in Orlando to $2,110 a month in Gilbert, up $363 a month (21%).
Median household income goes from $72,336 in Orlando to $122,551 in Gilbert, up $50,215 (69%).
The crime index goes from 242 in Orlando to 47 in Gilbert, down 195 points (81%).
The move
Gilbert and Orlando are 1,826 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $2,110 a month in Gilbert to $1,747 a month in Orlando, down $363 a month (17%).
Median household income goes from $122,551 in Gilbert to $72,336 in Orlando, down $50,215 (41%).
The crime index goes from 47 in Gilbert to 242 in Orlando, up 195 points (415%).
Orlando, FL
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 Orlando and Gilbert? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
17% cheaper
Orlando rent is 17% cheaper than Gilbert
Orlando
Winner$1,747/mo
Gilbert
$2,110/mo
Typical rent runs $1,747 a month in Orlando versus $2,110 in Gilbert, so Orlando is 17% cheaper. A meaningful but not dramatic gap. Factor it into your budget alongside salary differences between the two markets. Over a year the spread is about $4,356, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Orlando still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Gilbert.
Planning to buy in Gilbert? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
69% higher
Gilbert's median income is 69% higher than Orlando
Orlando
$72,336
Gilbert
Winner$122,551
Median household income is $122,551 in Gilbert versus $72,336 in Orlando, so typical pay runs 69% higher in Gilbert (about $50,215 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. Orlando can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
81% lower crime
Gilbert's crime index is 81% lower than Orlando
Orlando
242 (100 = avg)
Gilbert
Winner47 (100 = avg)
Gilbert's crime index is 47 versus 242 in Orlando (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 81% 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. Orlando can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
Neck and neck
Orlando and Gilbert are about even on typical weather.
Orlando
75°F avg · 82°F highs · comfort 100/100
Gilbert
80°F avg · 87°F highs · comfort 100/100
Orlando averages about 75°F (82°F highs); Gilbert averages about 80°F (87°F highs). Orlando sits near 75°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 Orlando
Orlando is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 17% cheaper here at about $1,747 a month. Choose Orlando 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 69% 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 81% lower than Orlando (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
Crime and safety tilt toward Gilbert: Gilbert scores 83/100 versus 33/100 in Orlando, with typical rent at $2,110 versus $1,747. I would vet the exact ZIP in Orlando before trading 50 safety points for housing savings.
Orlando rent at $1,747/month is still below Gilbert's $2,110, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Typical rent stays $1,747 in Orlando and $2,110 in Gilbert.
If safety drives your move, Gilbert is the stronger match (83/100 safety versus 33/100). If an employer or family tie already points to Orlando, treat $1,747/month rent and $72,336 income as the numbers that actually govern the decision.
Common questions
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Next steps
Quotes and listings for Gilbert when you're ready to act.
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Orlando and Gilbert, plus other cities in FL and AZ.
