Mesa vs Gilbert
The short version
- Overall prices are about the same in both metro areas (BEA 2024).
- The median home costs $408,000 in Mesa and $575,100 in Gilbert.
- Households earn more in Gilbert ($122,551 vs $82,752 median).
- Gilbert is growing faster: +7.2% since 2020 vs +1.8%.
Side by side
| Mesa, AZ | Gilbert, AZ | |
|---|---|---|
| People | ||
| Population (2025) | 513,656 | 287,285 |
| Growth since 2020 | +1.8% | +7.2% |
| People per square mile | 3,622 | 4,177 |
| Median age | 37.4 | 36.1 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 33% | 48% |
| Money and housing | ||
| Median household income | $82,752 | $122,551 |
| Median home value | $408,000 | $575,100 |
| Home value to income | 4.9× | 4.7× |
| Median rent (with utilities) | $1,620 | $2,110 |
| Metro price level (US = 100) | 103.3 | 103.3 |
| Housing price level (US = 100) | 121.2 | 121.2 |
| $75,000 elsewhere equals | $77,500 | $77,500 |
| Homeowners | 64% | 73% |
| Top state income tax | 2.5% | 2.5% |
| Combined sales tax | 8.54% | 8.54% |
| Work and commute | ||
| Average commute (minutes) | 24.7 | 25.9 |
| Work from home | 19% | 26% |
| Take public transit | 1% | 0% |
| Unemployment (2020-24 avg) | 4.2% | 3.5% |
| Poverty rate | 10.3% | 5.3% |
| Weather | ||
| January high / low | 71° / 39° | 71° / 39° |
| July high / low | 106° / 76° | 106° / 76° |
| Precipitation per year | 9 in | 9 in |
| Snowfall per year | 0 in | 0 in |
| Days 90°F or hotter | 179 | 179 |
| Nights below freezing | 10 | 10 |
| Comfortable months | 2 | 2 |
| Risks, air and home prices | ||
| Natural hazard risk (FEMA, county) | Very High | Very High |
| FEMA risk score (lower is safer) | 99.9 | 99.9 |
| Good air days, 2025 | 7% | 7% |
| Home prices, past year | +0.8% | +0.8% |
| Home prices, past 5 years | +35.8% | +35.8% |
Highlighted cells are the better value where "better" is clear (lower prices, higher income, shorter commutes). Sources: Census Bureau 2025 estimates and ACS 2020-2024, BEA 2024, NOAA 1991-2020, Tax Foundation 2026.
Weather, month by month
Most comfortable months: Mesa: March and November. Gilbert: March and November.
Full monthly tables: Mesa weather by month and Gilbert weather by month.
What $75,000 is worth
A $75,000 salary in an average-priced US city buys about the same as $77,500 in Mesa and $77,500 in Gilbert. Moving from Mesa to Gilbert, you would need about $75,000 to match a $75,000 salary.
Which would you pick?
One vote per person. Results show after you vote.