City comparison
No. Gilbert's crime index is 47 versus 93 in Tampa, and its violent crime index is 37 versus 112, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Tampa is cheaper. Median rent is $1,701 a month versus $2,110 in Gilbert.
The income gap between Tampa and Gilbert is significant: $75,475 median household versus $122,551. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $1,701 in Tampa and $2,110 in Gilbert.
This is a genuine split. Tampa 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. Tampa at $1,701 average has pockets that run $1,501 and others at $2,101: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Tampa and Gilbert are 1,777 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,701 a month in Tampa to $2,110 a month in Gilbert, up $409 a month (24%).
Median household income goes from $75,475 in Tampa to $122,551 in Gilbert, up $47,076 (62%).
The crime index goes from 93 in Tampa to 47 in Gilbert, down 46 points (49%).
The move
Gilbert and Tampa are 1,777 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $2,110 a month in Gilbert to $1,701 a month in Tampa, down $409 a month (19%).
Median household income goes from $122,551 in Gilbert to $75,475 in Tampa, down $47,076 (38%).
The crime index goes from 47 in Gilbert to 93 in Tampa, up 46 points (98%).
Tampa, 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 Tampa and Gilbert? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
19% cheaper
Tampa rent is 19% cheaper than Gilbert
Tampa
Winner$1,701/mo
Gilbert
$2,110/mo
Typical rent runs $1,701 a month in Tampa versus $2,110 in Gilbert, so Tampa is 19% 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 $4,908, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Tampa 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
62% higher
Gilbert's median income is 62% higher than Tampa
Tampa
$75,475
Gilbert
Winner$122,551
Median household income is $122,551 in Gilbert versus $75,475 in Tampa, so typical pay runs 62% higher in Gilbert (about $47,076 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. Tampa can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
49% lower crime
Gilbert's crime index is 49% lower than Tampa
Tampa
93 (100 = avg)
Gilbert
Winner47 (100 = avg)
Gilbert's crime index is 47 versus 93 in Tampa (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 49% 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. Tampa can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
Neck and neck
Tampa and Gilbert are about even on typical weather.
Tampa
75°F avg · 83°F highs · comfort 100/100
Gilbert
80°F avg · 87°F highs · comfort 100/100
Tampa averages about 75°F (83°F highs); Gilbert averages about 80°F (87°F highs). Tampa 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 Tampa
Tampa is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 19% cheaper here at about $1,701 a month. Choose Tampa 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 62% 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 49% lower than Tampa (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 62/100 in Tampa, with typical rent at $2,110 versus $1,701. I would vet the exact ZIP in Tampa before trading 21 safety points for housing savings.
Tampa rent at $1,701/month is still below Gilbert's $2,110, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Typical rent stays $1,701 in Tampa and $2,110 in Gilbert.
Gilbert clears the bar on safety in this dataset. Tampa deserves a serious look only when you already know the Tampa 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.
Keep researching
Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Tampa and Gilbert, plus other cities in FL and AZ.
