City comparison
No. Gilbert's crime index is 47 versus 62 in Plano, and its violent crime index is 37 versus 43, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Plano is cheaper. Median rent is $1,841 a month versus $2,110 in Gilbert.
Safety is where Plano and Gilbert split most clearly. Gilbert scores 15 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,841 in Plano and $2,110 in Gilbert.
This is a genuine split. Plano 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 Plano has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Plano and Gilbert are 872 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,841 a month in Plano to $2,110 a month in Gilbert, up $269 a month (15%).
Median household income goes from $112,253 in Plano to $122,551 in Gilbert, up $10,298 (9%).
The crime index goes from 62 in Plano to 47 in Gilbert, down 15 points (24%).
The move
Gilbert and Plano are 872 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $2,110 a month in Gilbert to $1,841 a month in Plano, down $269 a month (13%).
Median household income goes from $122,551 in Gilbert to $112,253 in Plano, down $10,298 (8%).
The crime index goes from 47 in Gilbert to 62 in Plano, up 15 points (32%).
Plano, TX
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 Plano and Gilbert? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
13% cheaper
Plano rent is 13% cheaper than Gilbert
Plano
Winner$1,841/mo
Gilbert
$2,110/mo
Typical rent runs $1,841 a month in Plano versus $2,110 in Gilbert, so Plano is 13% 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 $3,228, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Plano 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
9% higher
Gilbert's median income is 9% higher than Plano
Plano
$112,253
Gilbert
Winner$122,551
Median household income is $122,551 in Gilbert versus $112,253 in Plano, so typical pay runs 9% higher in Gilbert (about $10,298 more household income a year). The income edge is modest. Treat it as extra negotiating context, not a reason to ignore rent, schools, or climate. Remote workers especially should not treat citywide pay as a personal raise if their employer will not localize salary.
Crime index
24% lower crime
Gilbert's crime index is 24% lower than Plano
Plano
62 (100 = avg)
Gilbert
Winner47 (100 = avg)
Gilbert's crime index is 47 versus 62 in Plano (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 24% 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. Plano can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
Neck and neck
Plano and Gilbert are about even on typical weather.
Plano
69°F avg · 77°F highs · comfort 100/100
Gilbert
80°F avg · 87°F highs · comfort 100/100
Plano averages about 69°F (77°F highs); Gilbert averages about 80°F (87°F highs). Plano sits near 69°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 Plano
Plano is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 13% cheaper here at about $1,841 a month. Choose Plano 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 9% 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 24% lower than Plano (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 75/100 in Plano. Rent is $2,110/month in Gilbert and $1,841/month in Plano, so you are not buying calm streets for free.
Gilbert still pays more locally ($122,551 median income vs $112,253), which can offset the lease if your field pays Gilbert rates.
Median income is $122,551 in Gilbert versus $112,253 in Plano.
Between Plano and Gilbert, Gilbert is ahead on safety — 83/100 safety versus 75/100. Lean Plano instead when you already know the Plano block you would live on and the safety gap is acceptable.
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 Plano and Gilbert, plus other cities in TX and AZ.
