City comparison
No. Gilbert's crime index is 47 versus 107 in Santa Ana, and its violent crime index is 37 versus 121, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Santa Ana is cheaper. Median rent is $2,082 a month versus $2,110 in Gilbert.
Safety is where Santa Ana and Gilbert split most clearly. Gilbert scores 60 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $2,082 in Santa Ana and $2,110 in Gilbert.
This is a genuine split. Santa Ana 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 Santa Ana has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Santa Ana and Gilbert are 351 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $2,082 a month in Santa Ana to $2,110 a month in Gilbert, up $28 a month (1%).
Median household income goes from $93,999 in Santa Ana to $122,551 in Gilbert, up $28,552 (30%).
The crime index goes from 107 in Santa Ana to 47 in Gilbert, down 60 points (56%).
The move
Gilbert and Santa Ana are 351 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $2,110 a month in Gilbert to $2,082 a month in Santa Ana, down $28 a month (1%).
Median household income goes from $122,551 in Gilbert to $93,999 in Santa Ana, down $28,552 (23%).
The crime index goes from 47 in Gilbert to 107 in Santa Ana, up 60 points (128%).
Santa Ana, 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 Santa Ana and Gilbert? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
1% cheaper
Santa Ana rent is 1% cheaper than Gilbert
Santa Ana
Winner$2,082/mo
Gilbert
$2,110/mo
Typical rent runs $2,082 a month in Santa Ana versus $2,110 in Gilbert, so Santa Ana is 1% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $28, or $336 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
30% higher
Gilbert's median income is 30% higher than Santa Ana
Santa Ana
$93,999
Gilbert
Winner$122,551
Median household income is $122,551 in Gilbert versus $93,999 in Santa Ana, so typical pay runs 30% higher in Gilbert (about $28,552 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. Santa Ana can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
56% lower crime
Gilbert's crime index is 56% lower than Santa Ana
Santa Ana
107 (100 = avg)
Gilbert
Winner47 (100 = avg)
Gilbert's crime index is 47 versus 107 in Santa Ana (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 56% 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. Santa Ana can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
Neck and neck
Santa Ana and Gilbert are about even on typical weather.
Santa Ana
72°F avg · 78°F highs · comfort 100/100
Gilbert
80°F avg · 87°F highs · comfort 100/100
Santa Ana averages about 72°F (78°F highs); Gilbert averages about 80°F (87°F highs). Santa Ana sits near 72°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 Santa Ana
Santa Ana is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 1% cheaper here at about $2,082 a month. Choose Santa Ana 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 30% 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 56% lower than Santa Ana (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
Neither city is a free pass on neighborhood choice, but Gilbert leads on safety (83/100 vs 58/100 in Santa Ana). Typical rent is $2,110 in Gilbert and $2,082 in Santa Ana; do not assume the cheaper lease buys the calmer blocks.
Santa Ana rent at $2,082/month is still below Gilbert's $2,110, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Typical rent stays $2,082 in Santa Ana and $2,110 in Gilbert.
Between Santa Ana and Gilbert, Gilbert is ahead on safety — 83/100 safety versus 58/100. Lean Santa Ana instead when you already know the Santa Ana 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 Santa Ana and Gilbert, plus other cities in CA and AZ.
