Moving to Gilbert, AZ (2023) | COMPLETE Living in Gilbert AZ City Guide

Gilbert, Arizona is a town located southeast of Phoenix in Maricopa County, about 7 miles from Mesa and 18 miles from Scottsdale. The Phoenix suburb covers almost 69 square miles, making it the fourth-largest municipality in the Phoenix metro area. Gilbert was established by William “Bobby” Gilbert when he provided land to the Arizona Eastern Railway to connect Phoenix to Florence by train in 1902. In the early days, Gilbert was known as the Hay Shipping Capital of the World and was primarily a Mormon farming community until the town was incorporated in 1920. The Gilbert Arizona Temple is Gilbert’s gorgeous new LDS church. The town retains much of its history with grain silos and a water tower standing in the center of town, but Gilbert has since transformed from an agricultural-based community and Gilbert is now known for being an economically diverse suburban center of which Brigette Peterson is the mayor.

Gilbert is the fastest-growing area of Arizona and one of the 50 fastest- cities in the country attracting young professionals, retirees, and families due to the top-rated schools. Many millennials are moving to Gilbert and the town has earned the #1 spot in SmartAsset’s City Where Millennials are Buying Homes in 2020, and the Best US City to Find a Job in WalletHub. It was also ranked 10th Safest City in America by WalletHub in 2020 and is nicknamed “Kindness USA”. No wonder people love living in Gilbert!

Several notable and famous people have called Gilbert their home, including Haley Cavinder, a current basketball player at Fresno State and internet personality, Eric Swann, NFL player for Arizona Cardinals, and Rick Woolstenhulme, drummer for band Lifehouse.

Gilbert Information

• County: Maricopa County
• Area: 68.79 square miles
• Zip code: 85233 – 86298
• Area code: 480
• Elevation: 1,237 feet
• Time zone: UTC-7
• Closest airport: Phoenix-Mesa Gateway (AZA) is 7.68 miles from Gilbert.

Gilbert Population & Demographics 

Gilbert’s population is 248,349 people, and the town is part of the Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ metro area, which has a total population of 4,860,338. Gilbert’s demographics are:

• Median age – 34.5
• Diversity

• • • 5.2% more white than all other ethnicities (169,000 people)
    • 17.1% Hispanic (41,600 people)
    • 3.74% Black/African American (9,090 people)

• Ancestry

• • • 9.1% of the Gilbert population are foreign-born (22,607 people)
    • 90% of homes with children aged 5-17 speak English at home 

• Gender

• • • % of men – 49%
    • % of women – 51%
  • Median household income – $99,154, about 1.5 times the amount of Arizona and the Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, Arizona metro area as a whole. 
  • Marital status – 57% married
  • # of persons per household – 3.1 people

• Educational attainment

• • 96.5% have a high school diploma or higher
  • 45.3% have a bachelor’s degree or higher

Cost of Living in Gilbert 

The cost of living in Gilbert is slightly lower than the national average overall, with the average cost of groceries and health care below the national average, and housing, utilities, and transportation just slightly above the national average. 

Gilbert Typical Living Expenses

If you’re wondering if you can afford to live in Gilbert, it’s helpful to understand the typical daily living expenses you’ll encounter when moving to Arizona. 

The average monthly utility bill is $199.93, including heat, electric, cooling, water, and garbage.

Everyday living expenses, according to numbeo:

• Meal for 2 in mid-range restaurant: $40
• Gallon of milk – $2.72
• Loaf of fresh white bread – $2.70
• 12 ounce bottle of Coke/Pepsi – $2.16
• McDonald’s combo meal – $8.00
• Dozen eggs – $1.74
• Cappuccino – $5
• Bottle of mid-range wine – $10

Other unavoidable cost of living expenses in Gilbert include taxes. The state sales tax in Maricopa County is 0.700% and the Arizona state income taxes are 5.6%. The state has relatively low property tax rates due to a law that caps the total tax rate on owner-occupied homes. The national average is 1.07% while Arizona’s property tax rate is 0.62%.

According to the Economic Policy Institute, a family of four would need to earn $89, 542 per year to afford to live in Maricopa County.

Real Estate 

As of April 2022, the cost of homes in Gilbert was up nearly 31% compared to 2021, with the average home price $601,000. It takes an average of 18 days to sell a home in Gilbert and there are about 70 fewer homes on the market this year than last year, making it a competitive market. Many homes for sale in Gilbert will receive multiple offers and some have waived contingencies. Average homes sell for 3% above the list price while in-demand homes sell for 7% above list price within about 6 days.

• Median home price in Gilbert- $601,000
• Price per square foot – $307, up 27.9% over last year
• Number of days on market – 18

If you plan to rent instead of buy like 23% of the population of Gilbert, the average rent price for an apartment in Gilbert is $1,843 according to rentcafe. The average apartment size is one bedroom and offers 944 square feet. Rental prices vary according to the neighborhood, with some of the highest rental prices found in Estates at the Spectrum and Power Ranch ($2,242) and lower rent prices found in Carol Rae Ranch ($1,701) and Rancho del Verde ($1,738).

Gilbert Neighborhoods | Where to Live in Gilbert AZ

With strong schools and an abundance of family-friendly activities scattered throughout the numerous safe communities, Gilbert is one of the most popular cities within Phoenix Valley. The fast population growth has fueled the development of new amenities, making the area even more attractive for people looking to move to Gilbert.

Here’s a look at some of the best neighborhoods in Gilbert to begin your house-hunting adventure and help you decide where to live in the area!

Ashland Ranch – Safest Gilbert Suburb

• Population: 2,198
• Median Household Income: $124,089
• Median Home Listing Price: $400,500
• Homes for sale in Ashland Ranch

While Gilbert itself is ranked the safest cities in Arizona, Ashland Ranch tops the list for the safest suburb to live in, as well as one of the wealthiest areas. There is no shortage of restaurants, shopping, and amenities located right in the community. 

Local students can attend the nearby Ashland Ranch Elementary or the Benjamin Franklin Charter School.

Coronado Ranch – Gilbert Neighborhood Perfect for Raising a Family

• Population: 3,823
• Median Household Income: $99,853
• Median Home Listing Price: $429,000
• Homes for sale in Coronado Ranch

Nearly 50% of the population of people living in Coronado Ranch are children under the age of 18 years old. It has multiple parks, many of them with basketball courts, playgrounds, and open spaces to run and play.

The Islands – Waterfront Property in Arizona

• Population: 6,606
• Median Household Income: $90,298
• Median Home Listing Price: $379,900
• Homes for sale in The Islands

You probably don’t think about waterfront homes when you think about living in a desert area, but The Islands give you a coast resort feel with hundreds of palm trees scattered around three large lakes.

If you live in this great Gilbert suburb you’ll enjoy lake living, including catch and release fishing, and boating. The local Neely Traditional Academy is one of the most highly ranked schools in the city.

Seville – One of the Most Affluent Gilbert Neighborhoods

• Population: 6,428
• Median Household Income: $108,051
• Median Home Listing Price: $450,500
• Homes for sale in Seville

This wealthy community is a gorgeous area near the southern border of town. Residents of this area enjoy the club’s golf course, tennis courts, swimming pools, fitness center, and an outstanding restaurant called The Grove.

Finley Farms – An Affordable Gilbert Community

• Population: 3,977
• Median Household Income: $85,070
• Median Home Listing Price: $349,900
• Homes for sale in Finley Farms

The Finley Farms community is among the more affordable areas of Gilbert with median home listing prices under $350,000. The community is split among four separate areas within its borders: Estates at Finley Farms, Parkside at Finley Farms, Manor at Finley Farms, and Finley Farms South. The top-rated Greenfield Elementary and Finley Farms Elementary are both located within the borders of Finley Farms.

Power Ranch – One of the Largest and Most Affordable Neighborhoods in Gilbert

• Population: 11,504
• Median Household Income: $92,994
• Median Home Listing Price: $344,500
• Homes for sale in Power Ranch

Another neighborhood with home prices under $350,000, Power Ranch has almost twice as many residents as any other neighborhood in Gilbert.  the Power Ranch community boasts over 3,300 households that span more than 2,000 acres of land. 

Children have strong school options with education campuses at places like Power Ranch Elementary, Bridges Elementary, and Higley High School.

Gilbert Neighborhood Map

Gilbert Weather/Climate

If you love dry and hot summers, you’ll love the subtropical, hot desert climate of Gilbert! While the US average is 38 inches of rainfall per year, Gilbert only gets about 9 inches of rain per year. You can forget about snow as Gilbert doesn’t get any, but if you travel just about two hours outside Phoenix to the higher elevations, you can enjoy the white fluffy stuff during the winter months in Flagstaff, Greer, and Tucson. 

People in Gilbert rarely have low vitamin D levels as there are 296 sunny days per year compared to the US average of 205. 

You might look for air conditioning in July, the hottest month of the year when the average temperature reaches a staggering 105 degrees. But there are many days when the temperatures climb over 110 degrees!

Restaurants in Gilbert

Sometimes you just don’t feel like cooking, or you want to try new foods you wouldn’t ordinarily make at home. You’re in luck. The best restaurants in Gilbert offer a ton of variety, with options for a night out with your significant other, a family night,  or a night out with friends.

Culinary Dropout 

Where else can you get 36-hour pork ribs? Culinary Dropout offers bar favorites like pretzel bites with provolone fondue, and fried chicken with honey. Wash it all down with a cocktail or craft beer. The bar features trivia nights and free live music.

383 N Gilbert Rd, Gilbert, AZ 85234 – (480) 418-3980

Toasted Mallow

Whether you’re in need of a sweet treat to celebrate a special occasion or just want a memorable dessert, the Toasted Mallow’s gourmet marshmallow desserts are a unique and drool-worthy option! You can make more with marshmallows than s’mores. There are over 35 flavors made 100% corn syrup free. Online ordering is available along with local delivery.

1034 N Gilbert Rd #3, Gilbert, AZ 85234 – (480) 686-9071

The Biscuit House

The best Local family-owned breakfast and lunch restaurant offering American comfort food and house specialties. All ingredients are fresh. The Biscuit House also has a drive through window for call-ahead pick up orders and you can place online orders via the website.

1235 N Gilbert Rd, Gilbert, AZ 85234 – (480) 497-0321

Things to Do in Gilbert

There are many things to do in Gilbert and within a 30 minute drive of the town. Whether you’re looking for free things to do with the kids, something fun to do on date night, or want to experience arts and culture – Gilbert has something for everyone.

Top Attractions – 

• Fat Cats – bowling alley, movie theater, and glow golf.
• Main Event – family entertainment center with bowling, virtual reality, laser tag, story rooms, billiards, and arcade. The center can be rented for parties and events.
• Crayola Experience – located just 13 minutes outside of Gilbert in Chandler, the Crayola Experience is 20,000 square feet of interactive, creative play.
• Right on Target – try clay target shooting or the digital version. Everything needed to participate is included, even training.
• Level 1 Arcade Bar – bar and arcade center featuring 90’s music, over 100 classic arcade games and pinball machines, and a wide variety of cocktails and beer selections.
• Topgolf – huge entertainment center with 3 floors, with a lounge, drinks, arcade games, and a high-tech driving range, along with a bar and restaurant. Head up to the rooftop for a terrace and firepits.
• Imagine 3D Mini Golf – family fun, 3-d miniature golf course

Entertainment & Arts – 

• Higley Center for the Performing Arts – A concert hall and small theater for corporate presentations, children’s plays, drama and music.  
• Hale Center Theater – the longest continuously running and privately owned theater company in America.  
• Tuscany Theater – Actor’s Youth Theater to provide theatrical experiences for children ages 3 to 18.
• Inspire Entertainment – offers programs in dance, theater, music, and education for all ages.  

Museums 

• • 9/11 Memorial – located at Town Hall, the memorial features an 8-foot beam from the North Tower of the World Trade Center 
  • Gilbert Historical Museum – located in the HD South Building, originally the Gilbert Elementary School, the Historical Museum is on the National Register of Historic Places and features the town’s rich history. 

• Chandler Museum – just 15 minutes outside of Gilbert in Chandler, the Chandler Museum offers engaging, community-focused programs and rotating world-class exhibits

Parks & Outdoors 

• Desert Sky Park – park currently features four multi-use fields, a lake, playground, and fitness course. There are restroom facilities on-site. Desert Sky Park has plans for a major expansion to include more amenities and fields.
• Freestone Park –  88 acre park featuring a 5 acre lake stocked for fishing, multiple sports fields including lighted adult softball fields, volleyball, basketball, and tennis courts, a skate park, amphitheater, and playground areas. Great park for the kids.
• Discovery Park – 48 acre park with soccer fields, playground, basketball courts, jogging trails, and a stocked lake for fishing.  All ages enjoy an afternoon at this park.
• Gilbert Regional Park – stocked lake for fishing, playground, volleyball, tennis courts, pickleball, and a playground with large splash pad. 

Shopping 

• • SanTan Village – popular shopping mall with several dining options, movie theaters, and a kids club.
  • Gilbert Farmer’s Market – located in downtown Gilbert,  just west of the Water Tower. Open every Saturday with over 60 vendors in the summer and 100 in the fall and spring.

• Shoppes at Gilbert Commons  – Outdoor shopping mall with a wide variety of big box retailers, fast food restaurants, and casual dining.  ​​

Map of Things to Do in Gilbert 

Utilities/Driver License Change of Address 

When you move to another area, one of the items on your to-do list involves updating your address on your utility bills and driver’s license. Here’s a list of the utility providers for Gilbert and how to contact them:

• • Southwest Gas
    • www.swgas.com
    • (877) 860-6020
  • Salt River Project (SRP) Electric
    • www.srpnet.com
    • (602) 236-8888
    • Service Area Map
  • Arizona Public Service (APS) Electric
    • https://www.aps.com/en/residential/home
    • (602) 371-7171
    • Service Area Map
  • Gilbert Utility Service
    • www.gilbertaz.gov/utilities
    • 90 E. Civic Center Drive, Gilbert, AZ, 85296
    • (480) 503-6800
  • Solid Waste
    • www.gilbertaz.gov/solidwaste
    • 900 E. Juniper Avenue, Gilbert, AZ, 85234
    • (480) 503-6400

• Cox Internet Service

• • https://www.cox.com/residential/internet.html
  • 1-866-867-7644

Arizona MVD

When you relocate you must update your address on your driver’s license with the new address and if you’re moving to Arizona from another state, you’ll need to get a new Arizona driver’s license. You’ll need to visit the Motor Vehicle Department to get an Arizona driver’s license for the first time (and bring your Social Security Card and proof of address), but if you’re just getting a new address within Arizona, you can create an online account with the Arizona MVD and order a replacement license.

Sports 

While there are no professional sports teams directly in Gilbert, they can be found in nearby cities like Phoenix and Mesa. For example:

• Arizona Cardinals – NFL
• Arizona Diamondbacks – NBL
• Phoenix Suns – NBA
• Phoenix Mercury – WNBA

The Phoenix Knights are an Amateur Athletic Union-sanctioned Tier II ice hockey team based out of Gilbert with home games played at AZ Ice Gilbert.

Gilbert Transportation

Getting around in Gilbert is possible with public transportation, but it’s not as well developed as larger cities with public transportation. Gilbert is a Valley Metro Member Agency. The route consists of 28.2 miles of light rail lines serving Phoenix, Mesa, and Tempe and several public bus options.

If the public transportation doesn’t take you where you need to go, you can get around Gilbert by foot and bicycle. Here’s a handy bikemap.

The average one-way commute in Gilbert takes over 27 minutes which is a little longer than the US average of 26 minutes. Nearly 80% drive their own car to and from work by themselves, while 8.8% carpool with others. About 7.6% work from home and only 0.8% take mass transit.

If you’re heading out of the area your closest airport is 7.6 miles away at the Phoenix-Mesa Gateway (AZA). Other airport options include the Phoenix Sky Harbor International (PHX) about 13 miles away, or Prescott (PRC) which is 96 miles away.

Crime 

One way to judge if a town is a safe place to live is by looking at the crime rate as reported by the FBI. The total crime rate in Gilbert is 1,299 per 100,000 people of which only 97 are considered violent crimes. There are 48 rapes reported. There is only a 1 in 1,035 chance of being the victim of crime and there are no murders in Gilbert. There are 1,203 property crimes per 100,000 people.

In comparison, the total crime rate in the state of Arizona is 2,896 per 100,000, and the total crime rate in Phoenix is 4,014 per 100,000. The violent crime rate is 366 nationwide, so you can see that living in Gilbert is safer than many other areas of the state and even throughout the country.

You can use this Gilbert crime map from CrimeGrade to see which areas have the most crime reported.

Economy 

While the US is struggling with an average unemployment rate of 6%, Gilbert has an unemployment rate of 4.5% and has experienced a job market increase by 3.3% over the last year. The average income for a US citizen is $28,555 and the average Gilbert resident income is $31,546. The median household income in Gilbert is $81,485, which is much higher than the US average of $53,482 per year.

Gilbert is home to several large employers, including:

• Gilbert Public Schools, employing 3,642 people
• Banner Health, employing 2,268 people
• Mercy Gilbert Medical Center, employing 1,233 people
• Town of Gilbert, employing 1,191 people

Healthcare 

According to US News, Banner Gateway Medical Center on N. Higley Road in Gilbert is a general medicine and surgical facility is rated as high performing in adult cancer, geriatrics, and orthopedics.

Mercy Gilbert Medical Center on South Val Vista Road in Gilbert is a general medicine and surgical facility rated high performing in adult cancer, geriatrics, diabetes and endocrinology, gastroenterology, orthopedics, and pulmonology and lung cancer.

Jobs in City 

According to Payscale, the average salary in Gilbert is $70k, which is an increase of .9% in Q1 2022. Salaries in Gilbert are 18% higher than the national average. The most common jobs include Human Resources Managers, Operations Managers, and Software Engineers, with salaries ranging from $43k and $124k annually.

As one of the fastest growing communities in the United States, Gilbert has a variety of job openings if you would like to get a government job or work for the town of Gilbert.

If you’re looking for a job in Gilbert, check out Indeed’s job listings.

Gilbert Schools 

The most common majors in Gilbert are Phlebotomy Technician, Nursing Assistant, and Medical Assistant. Over 396 degrees were awarded by universities in Gilbert in 2020 to a highly skewed female student population of 331 females and 32 male students. Chandler-Gilbert Community College is located just a few minutes outside Gilbert in Chandler and enrolls students at a tuition rate of $85 per credit hour for Maricopa County residents.

The public school system has been delivering Kindergarten through 12th grade curriculum in A-rated schools for over 100 years. There are over 33,000 students served by 39 schools in Gilbert, Chandler, and Mesa, Arizona, Gilbert Public Schools are a district of educational choice.

All schools in the district emphasize academic studies while providing technology, music, art, physical education, and leadership. To meet the needs of every student, there are accelerated programs, dual language programs, gifted, talented, and creative programs, and international baccalaureate programs.

Living In Gilbert Pros & Cons 

• Pro: Top rated public school system with educational choice.
• Pro: Below average cost of living.
• Con: Limited public transportation.

There are many advantages of living in Gilbert, AZ. If you’ve decided to make this area your new home, our experienced Gilbert movers at Mentors Moving are prepared to make your relocation as smooth as possible. Call today at 480-462-7601 or fill out the form for a no obligation quote.