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Gilbert, Arizona

USA · Comprehensive city data and intelligence

71
Overall Score

Gilbert, Arizona, located southeast of Phoenix in Maricopa County, has transformed from its historical roots as the 'Hay Shipping Capital of the World' into one of the most dynamic and fastest-growing suburban communities in the United States. Characterized by its master-planned neighborhoods, family-friendly orientation, and pristine civic infrastructure, the town attracts thousands of new residents seeking a balance of suburban tranquility and modern economic opportunity. With a population nearing 290,000, Gilbert has evolved into a major economic hub while preserving a strong sense of community pride and architectural character.

About Arizona

Arizona offers a diverse landscape, from low-elevation deserts to mountainous regions, and is known for its abundant sunshine, averaging around 300 sunny days per year. The state's economy is moderately diverse, with major industries including manufacturing (especially aerospace, defense, transportation, and electronics), healthcare, real estate, tourism, technology, bioscience, agriculture (cotton, citrus), and mining (copper). While the cost of living in Arizona is generally higher than the national average, particularly for housing, the state's mild winters and opportunities for outdoor activities contribute to an appealing lifestyle for many.

287,285
Population
$75K
Avg Salary
104
Cost Index
71.1
Quality Score
How this 71/100 was calculated five components, with every reading behind them
Component Readings used Points Weight Contributes
Safety Safety score: 88 / 100 88.0 30% 26.4
Affordability Cost of living index (100 = national baseline): 104.0 38.8 25% 9.7
Economy & jobs Median household income: $122,551 Income needed to live here: $65,000 Unemployment rate: 4.1% 86.9 20% 17.4
Growth Population growth rate: 1.5% Job growth rate: 2.4% 65.3 15% 9.8
Business climate assessment Business climate assessment: 78 / 100 78.0 10% 7.8
Overall score 71.1

Provenance. These figures were produced by the research pass recorded as Gemini (Tier 1 (fast), q=72), last refreshed 11 October 2026. They are researched estimates drawn from public sources, not a licensed data feed.

Each component is scored against fixed published endpoints, so this number is comparable with any other city and does not move as the dataset grows. Scoring framework 2026.10 — full methodology, weights and accepted ranges.

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Quality Scores

Business
78
Livability
85
Affordability
62
Growth
80

Cost of Living

The cost of living in Gilbert runs approximately 3% to 5% above the national average, driven heavily by housing demand and rapid commercial development. While everyday goods, grocery items, and utility costs hover close to national benchmarks, the robust demand for local real estate pushes overall living expenses slightly higher than the broader Arizona average. High median household incomes help cushion these expenses for local residents, though prospective movers often encounter premium pricing in popular master-planned communities and modern rental developments.

Average Rent
$2,400/mo
Groceries
$400/mo
Transport
$120/mo
Utilities
$180/mo
Healthcare
$220/mo
Gym membership (monthly)
$50.00
Cinema ticket
$14.00
Restaurant meal (mid-range)
$25.00
Monthly groceries
$400.00
Doctor visit (without insurance)
$150.00

Salary Insights

Gilbert boasts a flourishing, diversified economy characterized by low unemployment rates and strong job growth across sectors like healthcare, education, advanced manufacturing, and technology. Major employers, including regional healthcare systems and corporate office parks, provide a resilient employment base that benefits from a highly educated local workforce. The town's economic development initiatives heavily target innovation and tech startups, creating a thriving environment for remote professionals and entrepreneurs seeking modern business infrastructure.

The average salary in Gilbert is $75,000 per year. You would need approximately $65,000 to live comfortably.

Top Industries

Education +2.00% Healthcare +3.20% Professional Services +2.80% Retail and Hospitality +1.90% Technology and Manufacturing +3.50%

Climate

🌡️
76°F
Avg Temp
☀️
106°F
Summer High
❄️
48°F
Winter Low
🌧️
13.40"
Annual Rain
💧
30.00%
Humidity
🌤️
330
Sunny Days

Transport

Transportation in Gilbert is heavily car-dependent, with a structured grid of wide roadways and rapid access to major regional freeways like the Santan Freeway (Loop 202). While traditional fixed-route public transit options are limited compared to dense urban cores, the town features expanding bike lane networks and multi-use paths. Average commutes are manageable relative to larger metropolitan areas, though peak traffic hours experience standard suburban congestion.

26 min
Avg Commute
35.00/10
Transit Score
42.00/10
Walkability
High
Car Dependency

Pros & Cons

Advantages
Median household income exceeds $122,000, reflecting a prosperous local economy per U.S. Census Bureau data.
Consistently ranked among the safest large towns and cities in the United States.
Exceptional public school system performance paired with high educational attainment rates.
Vibrant Heritage District offering diverse dining, shopping, and community events.
Abundant outdoor recreation infrastructure, including the Riparian Preserve and extensive trail networks.
Drawbacks
Summer high temperatures regularly exceed 100°F for multiple consecutive months.
High cost of living and housing prices relative to the national average and broader state figures.
Significant car dependency with limited public mass transit options.
Rapid development is steadily reducing remaining vacant land and open desert spaces.
Traffic congestion during peak hours along major arterial corridors.

Questions about Gilbert

What people ask about living in and moving to Gilbert, Arizona.

Gathering the most common questions about Gilbert…

Frequently Asked Questions

Urblytica benchmarks its Cost of Living Index against a United States national average baseline of 100. A score of 115 means a city is approximately 15% more expensive than the national average, while a score of 85 indicates it is 15% more affordable. This composite calculation is weighted across six primary expenditure categories: housing, utilities, grocery items, transportation, healthcare, and miscellaneous goods.

Urblytica aggregates housing data from multiple authoritative sources, including Multiple Listing Service (MLS) feeds, municipal property tax registries, the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (ACS), and verified historical deed transactions. This multi-tier aggregation ensures precision in tracking median home values and rental rates.

A municipality must meet minimum data-density thresholds—including consistent reporting population samples from the U.S. Census and active residential or commercial real estate transaction feeds—to ensure statistical significance before a complete scoring profile is published.

When primary agencies (such as the Bureau of Labor Statistics or U.S. Census Bureau) issue historical data revisions or benchmark corrections, Urblytica's data pipeline automatically re-indexes affected historical archives to maintain longitudinal trend accuracy.

U.S. affordability calculations incorporate federal income tax brackets, state-specific income tax rates, and local municipal tax variations to evaluate the true net tax drag on median household earnings across different states and cities.

Local county and municipal property tax millage rates are factored directly into the housing component of the cost-of-living index to reflect recurring annual tax burdens for homeowners.

The platform aggregates state sales taxes alongside county and city surtaxes to measure consumer basket purchasing power parity accurately across different retail jurisdictions.

Utility calculations apply regional seasonal consumption weightings, incorporating high summer air conditioning loads in southern states and heavy winter heating demands in northern states.

The index tracks average out-of-pocket healthcare expenses, routine outpatient visit costs, and regional health insurance premium benchmarks published by federal health agencies.

Educational metrics aggregate state standardized testing benchmarks, student-to-teacher ratios, high school graduation rates, and per-pupil expenditure data published by state departments of education.

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