Residential comparison · 13 facts
Gilroy, CA vs Salinas, CA
Compare the housing, tax, cost, income, safety, school, and climate facts that are available for both places. The table shows the numbers without declaring one city universally better.
A household earning $85,000 in Gilroy needs about $89,000 in Salinas to keep the same lifestyle.
Coming from Salinas, $85,000 of lifestyle costs about $81,000 in Gilroy.
A few differences
- Gilroy is higher on median household income ($133,107 vs $91,908).
- Salinas is lower on cost of living index (133 vs 157).
- Salinas is lower on 2-bedroom rent ($2,065/mo vs $2,265/mo).
Gilroy vs Salinas · facet by facet
| Facet | Gilroy, CA | Salinas, CA |
|---|---|---|
| Median home price | $1,027,400 | $654,100 |
| 2-bedroom rent | $2,265/mo | $2,065/mo |
| Property tax rate | 0.75% | 0.75% |
| State & local income tax | 2.09% | 2.09% |
| Sales tax | 8.8% | 8.8% |
| Cost of living index | 157 | 133 |
| Groceries index | 112 | 112 |
| Utilities | $245/mo | $245/mo |
| Median household income | $133,107 | $91,908 |
| Unemployment rate | 5.2% | 5.2% |
| Crime index | 52/100 | 52/100 |
| School rating | 5.5/10 | 5.5/10 |
| Sunny days / year | 260 days | 260 days |
Data: Census ACS 2024 · BLS · Tax Foundation 2024 brackets · HUD/Zillow · NOAA 1991–2020 · FEMA NRI · Values are shown as reported; no universal winner is implied.
Full profiles: Gilroy, CA · Salinas, CA
Questions & answers
- Is Gilroy cheaper than Salinas?
- Salinas has the lower day-to-day cost index (133 vs 157 against a national 100). The other differences are shown facet by facet in the table.
- What household income in Salinas equals $85,000 in Gilroy?
- A household earning $85,000 in Gilroy needs about $89,000 in Salinas to keep the same lifestyle; coming the other way, $85,000 of Salinas lifestyle costs about $81,000 in Gilroy.