If you’re thinking about moving and finding the best place to call home, maybe it’s time to consider Gilbert, Arizona. Gilbert was ranked as the 46th best place to live by Money’s 2020-2021 out of over 1,800 U.S. cities and towns. To give Gilbert more of the spotlight it deserves, it was the only town to make the list from Arizona. The list of reasons to live in Gilbert goes on and on whether it be work opportunities, economic rankings, affordable housing, climate, diversity, attractions, and overall safety. Gilbert deserved this recognition as one of the best places to live.
So where is this remarkable town? Gilbert is a vast town located in Central Arizona. To give some prospective, to go from Gilbert to Phoenix it’s approximately 24 miles southeast and quick 15–20-minute drive to other well-known cities such as Mesa and Tempe. With a population of around 271,000 and still growing at a high rate, Gilbert is home to many families and young professionals. While the cost of living is higher than most towns in Arizona, don’t worry the unemployment rate is at a low 9.7% with a median household income of approximately $96,000 and median home price of approximately $359,000. If your kickstarting your career or settling down with your family, this is the place to be. Gilbert was awarded national as 3rd best city to buy a house, 2nd best city for first time home buyers, and best city for apartment amenities.
Some of the best neighborhoods to live in Gilbert includes; Val Vista Lakes which is great for those who want to be close to the water. You can spend your day visiting waterfalls, lagoons, and the beach. And if you want to be near the water you’ll always be surrounded by a network of man-made lakes. Another neighborhood in Gilbert is Power Ranch, great for families who have young children. Power Ranch offers multiple options for schools nearby with high education rankings. If you love golfing, Seville is the right neighborhood for you. You won’t have to worry about being too far from a golf course and you’ll have the opportunity to enjoy luxury club house amenities. Ashland Ranch is the place to be if you’re looking to live in the safest area. Although on the wealthier sides, Ashland Ranch offers plenty of shopping plazas nearby. The Islands is perfect for you if you want to feel as though you’re on a tropical vacation surrounded by palm trees and lakes. Finley Farms is great for those who appreciate taking trips to local farmers markets and enjoying the outdoor activities such as hiking, bike riding, or scenic walks. Coronado Ranch is a great neighborhood for those with children. Nearly half of the population is under the age of 18 years old and it’s gives you more of an opportunity to meet families in the neighborhood and for your kids to participate in neighborhood activities. Last we have Lyon’s Gate, if you’re looking to be near Arizona State University or if you travel a lot the airport is less than 4 miles away then Lyon’s Gate is for you.
Gilbert is not only one of the safest places to live in Arizona, despite its overall large population, and a median age of 34, Gilbert ranked the second safest city in the U.S. Based on the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reports. It saw a dramatic decrease of crime in 2018 to 2019 even with an increase of over 6,000 new residents. It was ranked 9th best place in the US to raise a family. It's one of the best places to live in Arizona as its employees are dedicated to protecting its community which is reassuring for new homeowners, families, and visitors.
Now that we’ve covered the statistics of Gilbert let’s talk about what the locals do for fun. Whether you’re planning on settling down or traveling for vacation there are plenty of fun activities, to for all ages. Whether you play sports or just like watching the games, there are numerous recreational facilities for playing sports whether it be with friends or on your local communities teams. You can even take a short drive to watch several MLB teams at the nearby Chase Field stadium, go AZ Diamondbacks! If you love playing golf well you’re in luck. Gilbert has numerous golf courses and is one of the best towns in the U.S for golfers. Ranked 8th best city, because of its beautiful year-round weather and vast courses. If you, your friends, and family prefer to catch up on the sports games with a cold beer in hand, head over to Gilberts Heritage District, and you’ll find yourself surrounded by plenty of bars and breweries that fit the atmosphere you’re looking for. What’s better than having an endless amount of locally brewed beers on a sunny day in Gilbert? Nothing right! Well before you spend your time out having a beer or dinning at local restaurants, there are a lot more places to visit. With Gilbert being known for its agriculture, farm to table restaurants isn't hard to find. Whether you want a quick bite or an elegant evening Gilbert has been awarded as one of the best foodie towns in the US.
Gilbert is a great place for those who love to spend their time outdoors and indulge in nature. Temperatures range from lows of 41 ° F and highs of 105°F. If you prefer a warmer climate with lots of sunshine then this is the perfect climate for you. What better place to be where the sun is shining nearly 300 days out of the year? If you’re a nature junkie head over to Riparian Preserve at Water Ranch and be amazed by the wildlife. With over 4.5 miles of trails, its perfect for those who love a good hike, bike ride, even horseback riders. If you just want to have a scenic walk, Riparian Preserve is home to around 300 species of birds, so don’t forget to stop and take a look around. There are also places for fishing, having a picnic and much more. The town offers six major parks. If you think you’ve seen it all Gilbert offers more than 135 miles of marked and unmarked trails. Bike enthusiast have 54 miles of marked bike trails with views of canals. If you’re a dog lover and are wondering where to walk your dog not only do you have plenty of trails, but head over to Cosmo Dog Park, ranked 4th best in the U.S., to let your dog run free and meet other dogs. If you love shopping visit SanTan Village where you’ll find a wide range of major retail stores. Don’t forget to support the local crafters. You can find unique creations that can be a souvenir or gift for others that truly reflects the community and culture of Gilbert.
After spending your days outdoors you can visit the many art galleries, memorials, museums, and theatres. For those who want to update their Instagram story there are plenty of murals around the town that you have to keep an eye out for. For those interested in creating their own art there is the Gilbert Visual Art League which brings local artists together as well as the community and offers venues for local artists to show off their work. There are also many attractions for family nights, date nights, or spending time with friends. Gilbert has live performances, trampoline parks, escape rooms, bowling centers, cinemas, minigolf, game rooms, arcades, laser tag, rock climbing, karaoke, and anything else you can think of, there’s a good chance you’ll find it here.
What better way to get to know how to live like a local than to experience some of Gilberts signature events! These include the famous Gilbert Days which celebrates the community and the paving of Gilberts Road. This festival in November includes a parade throughout the town, the water tower lighting ceremony and concert, and Gilberts 5k,10K, and half marathon. What better way to celebrate the creation of a road then to have a parade and run on it? Another well-known event is the Gilbert Global Village Festival. This festival celebrates the diversity in the community and encourages all ages to participate in the festival. This festival is a great way to bring the community together, meet new people, and celebrate cultural traditions around the world. You’ll be able to experience live performances, hands on activities, and cuisine from around the world. You can travel the world in your own neighborhood! This event takes place in March annually. There are many more special events such as the Gilbert Glow Run, H20 fest, Gilbert Outdoors Expo, Kapow! Superhero Run, Truck-a-Palooza, Riparian After Dark and many more events. It’s reassuring that if you live here, there will always be something to do no matter what your interest is.
Now that you’ve discovered just a glimpse of what life could be like for you in Gilbert why wouldn’t you want to live there! Not to brag, but it has a long list of awards and achievements and strong community values. You’ll be able to say that you live in a town that was ranked in the top 25 coolest town in America to live and top 46th best place to live!
