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Gilbert, Arizona Arizona
Gilbert Arizona is located just to the south east of Phoenix and has
landed on numerous "best places to live" lists. It got its start in the
early 1900s as a railroad town and later as an agricultural center.
Mormons were the primary early settlers in Gilbert as they fled Mexico
and the persecution of Pancho Villa.
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Today it is primarily a suburban
and residential bedroom community and has been growing fast, booming by
75% within the last decade. Residents tend to be affluent and educated
with 35% of the population over the age of 25 holding a college degree.
The median household income is above the national average, and indeed,
Gilbert's residents are some of the most prosperous in the Phoenix
metropolitan area.
Nearly 200,000 people live in Gilbert and the cost of living is
approximately 15% above the national average. The median home price is
roughly $275,000. As might be expected residents are generally
conservative with 55% calling themselves Republican. The crime rate is
well below the national average.
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When it comes to climate, Gilbert, like most of Arizona, is very hot
and dry. In the summer, temperatures can easily reach into the low
100s, and during the winter, temperatures are usually in the 40s and
50s. It rarely rains; the city receives 6 to 9 inches of precipitation a
year.
For anyone seeking a hot dry climate, a safe city and affluent
population, Gilbert is worth a look at retirement
time. Gilbert does not have its own
hospital, but for hospitals are within 5 to 6 miles, and of course,
Phoenix has a dozen or more medical facilities. At this writing,
roughly 85% of residents are Caucasian and 15% are Hispanic.
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