85297 and 85296 receive effectively the same standardized Area Score. Which fits you better depends on which dimensions you weight — the differences below are where they actually diverge.
Signals
85297
85296
Opportunity
53 · Bottom 47%
vs53 · Bottom 47%
Growth
34 · Bottom 24%
vs34 · Bottom 24%
Climate
59 · Bottom 12%
vs59 · Bottom 12%
Physical resilience
47 · Bottom 37%
vs47 · Bottom 37%
Housing affordability
75 · Bottom 42%
vs70 · Bottom 36%
Access
99 · Top 8%
vs99 · Top 8%
Economic stability
81 · Top 9%
vs84 · Top 5%
Measured values
| Metric | 85297 | 85296 | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 37,475 | 53,076 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $130,755 | $118,982 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $48,737 | $50,204 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 3,493/sq mi | 4,548/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $600,600 | $561,400 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $2,302 | $2,227 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 74.8% | 68.9% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 4.2% | 4.2% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -3.9% | -3.9% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 46.6% | 49.3% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 5.8% | 4.9% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 500 | 500 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 1.8 | 1.8 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | -69.7% | -69.7% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 107°F | 107°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 46°F | 46°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 7.2" | 7.2" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 5 mi | 6 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 28.8 min | 26.9 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 34.8 | 35.7 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 11 | 12 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 17.25 | 14.56 | 2024-25 school year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
85297
Elevated or high exposure: inland flooding.
85296
Elevated or high exposure: inland flooding.
Full profiles: 85297 — Gilbert, AZ · 85296 — Gilbert, AZ · How this is calculated: methodology