City comparison
No. Gilbert's crime index is 47 versus 233 in Stockton, and its violent crime index is 37 versus 314, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Stockton is cheaper. Median rent is $1,577 a month versus $2,110 in Gilbert.
Safety is where Stockton and Gilbert split most clearly. Gilbert scores 186 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,577 in Stockton and $2,110 in Gilbert.
This is a genuine split. Stockton 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. Stockton at $1,577 average has pockets that run $1,377 and others at $1,977: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Stockton and Gilbert are 621 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,577 a month in Stockton to $2,110 a month in Gilbert, up $533 a month (34%).
Median household income goes from $79,907 in Stockton to $122,551 in Gilbert, up $42,644 (53%).
The crime index goes from 233 in Stockton to 47 in Gilbert, down 186 points (80%).
The move
Gilbert and Stockton are 621 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $2,110 a month in Gilbert to $1,577 a month in Stockton, down $533 a month (25%).
Median household income goes from $122,551 in Gilbert to $79,907 in Stockton, down $42,644 (35%).
The crime index goes from 47 in Gilbert to 233 in Stockton, up 186 points (396%).
Stockton, 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 Stockton and Gilbert? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
25% cheaper
Stockton rent is 25% cheaper than Gilbert
Stockton
Winner$1,577/mo
Gilbert
$2,110/mo
Typical rent runs $1,577 a month in Stockton versus $2,110 in Gilbert, so Stockton is 25% cheaper. That's roughly $533/month back in your pocket ($6,396/year). Over five years that's $31,980 you could redirect toward a down payment, travel, or investments. Housing is the bill you pay before groceries, childcare, or a social life, so that gap shows up in how often you eat out and how panicked a rent hike feels. If you already have a high-paying offer in Gilbert, the extra rent can be rational. If you do not, Stockton is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.
Planning to buy in Gilbert? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
53% higher
Gilbert's median income is 53% higher than Stockton
Stockton
$79,907
Gilbert
Winner$122,551
Median household income is $122,551 in Gilbert versus $79,907 in Stockton, so typical pay runs 53% higher in Gilbert (about $42,644 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. Stockton can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
80% lower crime
Gilbert's crime index is 80% lower than Stockton
Stockton
233 (100 = avg)
Gilbert
Winner47 (100 = avg)
Gilbert's crime index is 47 versus 233 in Stockton (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 80% 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. Stockton can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
Neck and neck
Stockton and Gilbert are about even on typical weather.
Stockton
71°F avg · 83°F highs · comfort 100/100
Gilbert
80°F avg · 87°F highs · comfort 100/100
Stockton averages about 71°F (83°F highs); Gilbert averages about 80°F (87°F highs). Stockton sits near 71°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 Stockton
Stockton is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 25% cheaper here at about $1,577 a month. Choose Stockton 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 53% 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 80% lower than Stockton (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
Stockton carries the heavier crime signal on this page (34/100 safety vs 83/100 in Gilbert). That 49-point spread matters more than the $533 rent gap when you are choosing where to walk after dark.
Stockton rent at $1,577/month is still below Gilbert's $2,110, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Typical rent stays $1,577 in Stockton and $2,110 in Gilbert.
Pick Gilbert when you want the stronger safety signal (83/100). Otherwise, Stockton's case rests on a Stockton ZIP you trust at $1,577 rent.
Common questions
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Next steps
Quotes and listings for Gilbert when you're ready to act.
Keep researching
Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Stockton and Gilbert, plus other cities in CA and AZ.
