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The Town of Gilbert, Arizona

Gilbert was declared "the best place in Arizona to raise your kids in 2009" by Business Week magazine. "The fast-growing town has a skate park, a movie theater, and Riparian Preserve at Water Ranch, which draws 200 species of birds."

Gilbert consistently ranks higher in CNN Money's Best Places to Live than any other town or city in Arizona.

Gilbert by the Numbers (From the official city website)

• Current population: Approximately 215,000
• Median household income: $84,967
• Year founded: 1891
• Year incorporated: 1920
• Planning area: 76 square miles
• Elevation: 1,273 feet
• Cost-of-living index: 98.7
• Annual average rainfall: 9.23 inches
• Annual sunshine days: 310 days
• Average temperatures (high/low):
  January 67/41 | April 85/54 | July 106/77 | October 89/59

What the Residents Say:

Perhaps the most revealing look into a town is to see what the residents themselves think of it. Following are some of the results of a 2008 head-of-household survey conducted by the City of Gilbert.

Nearly all 600 respondents (97%) expressed satisfaction with living in the town of Gilbert with 71% saying they were very satisfied. Major reasons for their satisfaction:

1. 27.5% small town atmosphere, quiet
2. 15.3% clean, new town
3. 13.7% safe place to live
4. 12.5% friendly people and good community feeling
5. 11.0% family orientation
6. 8.5% good public schools
7. 8.1% good amenities nearby
8. 6.7% good parks and recreation facilities
9. 6.3% good opportunities for shopping

Their complaints:

1. 11.3% poor road conditions and traffic congestion
2. 5.3% constant road construction
3. 5.2% rapid growth of Gilbert
4. 5.0% high taxes

Safest Large Town in AZ

According to USA Today, and based on a 2006 FBI report on violent crime rates, Gilbert is the safest city in Arizona with over 100,000 residents, and the 22nd safest in the nation.

Excelling at Education

Gilbert gets a city rating of 9 out of 10 from greatschools.net based on its students high test scores. According to the Arizona Department of Education, Gilbert has 27 schools within its public school district that are ranked as "excelling," the state's highest ranking. See more about Gilbert Schools.

A Few of Many Area Attractions:

Riparian Preserve at Water Ranch - Children love to play in this beautiful series of duck ponds and nature trails in the middle of the city. Trails are open to joggers, bikers, and walkers, and connect to other bike paths and bike routes that allow easy access to the preserve from various parts of the city. Ponds are stocked and fishing is allowed with the proper license. A volunteer-run observatory located on the premises is open to visitors every Friday and Saturday night. The library is right next door and creates a breathtaking reflection on the water in the evenings.

Freestone Park - Amenities include 2 lakes, fishing, 4 lighted adult softball fields, 2 soccer fields, 2 lighted sand volleyball courts, 4 lighted full basketball courts, 4 lighted tennis courts, model railroad, amusement area (train depot, carousels, mini ferris wheel), skate park, batting cages, amphitheater, 3 ramadas (see legend), 3 play areas, picnic tables, bbq grills, 3 restroom facilities, 2 checkerboard tables, benches, bike racks, multi-use/equestrian trails, 472 parking spaces (24 accessible parking spaces). Community events occur year round at this park.

Cosmo Dog Park - This dog park is approximately four fenced acres with lighting for night use, and pet drinking fountains and wash stations.

SanTan Village - Although there are more than a dozen traditional indoor malls scattered throughout Metropolitan Phoenix, SanTan Village breaks the mold in retail design by being the first and largest center of its kind in Arizona with an all outdoor regional retail center highlighted by department stores and indoor food court.