City comparison
No. Gilbert's crime index is 47 versus 62 in Virginia Beach, and its violent crime index is 37 versus 29, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Virginia Beach is cheaper. Median rent is $1,714 a month versus $2,110 in Gilbert.
The income gap between Virginia Beach and Gilbert is significant: $92,968 median household versus $122,551. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $1,714 in Virginia Beach and $2,110 in Gilbert.
Gilbert is not a close call here. It leads on the job market, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Virginia Beach makes sense if you have a specific reason, a job offer, family, or a neighborhood you already know, but on the numbers alone Gilbert is the stronger move.
The rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. Virginia Beach at $1,714 average has pockets that run $1,514 and others at $2,114: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Virginia Beach and Gilbert are 2,027 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,714 a month in Virginia Beach to $2,110 a month in Gilbert, up $396 a month (23%).
Median household income goes from $92,968 in Virginia Beach to $122,551 in Gilbert, up $29,583 (32%).
The crime index goes from 62 in Virginia Beach to 47 in Gilbert, down 15 points (24%).
The move
Gilbert and Virginia Beach are 2,027 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $2,110 a month in Gilbert to $1,714 a month in Virginia Beach, down $396 a month (19%).
Median household income goes from $122,551 in Gilbert to $92,968 in Virginia Beach, down $29,583 (24%).
The crime index goes from 47 in Gilbert to 62 in Virginia Beach, up 15 points (32%).
Virginia Beach, VA
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 Virginia Beach and Gilbert? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
19% cheaper
Virginia Beach rent is 19% cheaper than Gilbert
Virginia Beach
Winner$1,714/mo
Gilbert
$2,110/mo
Typical rent runs $1,714 a month in Virginia Beach versus $2,110 in Gilbert, so Virginia Beach 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 $4,752, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Virginia Beach 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
32% higher
Gilbert's median income is 32% higher than Virginia Beach
Virginia Beach
$92,968
Gilbert
Winner$122,551
Median household income is $122,551 in Gilbert versus $92,968 in Virginia Beach, so typical pay runs 32% higher in Gilbert (about $29,583 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. Virginia Beach can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
24% lower crime
Gilbert's crime index is 24% lower than Virginia Beach
Virginia Beach
62 (100 = avg)
Gilbert
Winner47 (100 = avg)
Gilbert's crime index is 47 versus 62 in Virginia Beach (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. Virginia Beach can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
20% more comfortable
Gilbert weather is 20% more comfortable than Virginia Beach
Virginia Beach
59°F avg · 63°F highs · comfort 83/100
Gilbert
Winner80°F avg · 87°F highs · comfort 100/100
Virginia Beach averages about 59°F (63°F highs); Gilbert averages about 80°F (87°F highs). Virginia Beach averages around 59°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Gilbert sits near 80°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Gilbert scores 20% closer to the 65-80°F comfort band on this page, so it is the easier default for year-round outdoor errands and evenings. Choose Virginia Beach if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
Fit check
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Virginia Beach
Virginia Beach is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 19% cheaper here at about $1,714 a month. Choose Virginia Beach 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 plus year-round outdoor access
It is also a match for career-focused movers who want salary upside and year-round outdoor access. Median household income runs 32% higher ($122,551), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 80°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
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 Virginia Beach (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
Weather separates these metros: $2,110/month rent in Gilbert at 80°F versus $1,714 in Virginia Beach at 59°F. Income runs $122,551 vs $92,968, but the daily feel of the move is the temperature gap.
Gilbert still pays more locally ($122,551 median income vs $92,968), which can offset the lease if your field pays Gilbert rates.
Safety scores read 75/100 in Virginia Beach and 83/100 in Gilbert.
Between Virginia Beach and Gilbert, Gilbert is ahead on climate — 80°F typical weather versus 59°F. Lean Virginia Beach instead when you would rather tolerate 59°F than optimize for Gilbert's comfort score.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
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