Tour of Gilbert Arizona

Housing in Gilbert:

Gilbert boasts the highest number of “family households” in the entire state of Arizona. Because of its family-friendly nature. So, it may come as no surprise that Gilbert has (for the most part) a suburban, neighborhood feeling. There are some options for apartments and condos, but most people do not move to Gilbert to live an urban lifestyle. The walkability is the best around downtown because the more residential parts of Gilbert are spread out.

The affordability of the homes in Gilbert has gone down in recent years as the housing market spikes and the population of Gilbert grows. As is true with much of the Phoenix Metro Area, this once extremely affordable place to live is certainly getting more and more expensive as the years go by. Still, compared to places like Los Angeles and San Francisco, Gilbert (and the rest of Phoenix) remains relatively affordable.

Cost of Living in Gilbert

Though the housing remains affordable comparatively in Gilbert, it’s worth noting that the cost of living in Gilbert is slightly higher than it is in many other suburbs in the Phoenix area. Groceries, gas, shopping, dining out, and other day to day expenses are just a bit above average in Gilbert. It’s kind of a “you get what you pay for” situation, because you are obviously getting a lot if you decide to live in Gilbert. For the most part this often goes unnoticed, especially if you are moving to Gilbert from a big city with an exceptionally high cost of living.

Downtown Gilbert

When it comes to grabbing a bite, the options are endless in Downtown Gilbert. There are plenty of restaurants where the whole gang can have a fun night out on the town. Gilbert is a family friendly place to live, but there is something for everyone downtown. Whether you are looking for some late-night drinks for the adults only crowd, or a fun family dinner, the options are nearly overwhelming. With the walkable nature of Downtown Gilbert, it’s perfectly laid out for a pub crawl on a balmy Arizona night, or a stroll around town to find a tasty dessert to top off the night.

Downtown Gilbert is one of the most historic parts of town, but it’s vibe is constantly evolving. Over the last decade, this part of town has exploded with new growth. Downtown Gilbert is the perfect place to catch dinner and a show. The Hale Theatre, a renovated historic theater, offers an exceptional theatrical season. Year-round Gilbert residents and visitors can enjoy musical, classical, and occasional workshop productions.

The historic Gilbert Water Tower, constructed in the 1920s, originally served a purpose storing water for firefighting, and later city water. When it was decommissioned in the 1980s, the town rallied around this beacon of desert prosperity, and through city initiative, the tower was protected, restored, and turned into a city park. These days, you can visit the tower to enjoy tower lighting’s throughout the year, or beat the heat on the splash pad.

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Every Saturday (bimonthly during non-peak months) the Gilbert Farmers Market is held in Downtown Gilbert, also known as the Heritage District. Locally sourced produce and goods fill tables and crates, and vendors sell beautiful hand-crafted products as well. The Gilbert Farmers Market is an excellent place for locals to support sustainable agriculture, as well as small businesses. The produce is of the finest quality and much of it is organic. There are plenty of fun things for the kiddos too, like free samples and face painting. Even if you don’t buy much, the farmers market is a great place to get out as a whole family and enjoy the weather and local culture.

Things to do in Gilbert:

The gorgeous landscape and temperate weather of Arizona makes it an oasis for those who enjoy getting out into the great outdoors. The Riparian Preserve at Water Ranch is an excellent place for Gilbert residents to do so. This stunning nature preserve features 4.5 miles of trails, beautiful water features, and is even equestrian friendly. Unique to this preserve, is its water features designed to reuse 100% of the Gilbert effluent water.

One of the coolest things about the preserve is its mission to support desert living sustainability. The ponds, streams, and tributaries within the Riparian Preserve are full of treated wastewater. This allows local fauna and flowers to benefit from a water habitat within the middle of the desert. Because of this resource, almost 300 species of birds call the park home, and countless fish, amphibians, and insects can be found here as well.

Gilbert Regional Park, located in southeast Gilbert, is one of the newest outdoor amenities in Gilbert. While the nature preserve is doing just that, preserving the desert nature, Gilbert Regional Park is a place where all the amenities of a city park come together. This space allows residents to have a beautiful, manicured place to enjoy family time and green space. When this massive park is finished, it will contain over 272 acres of outdoor fun for the people of Gilbert. The park offers playgrounds, basketball, tennis, and volleyball courts, and even an amphitheater. Picnic areas and walking paths make the entire park accessible and easy to navigate. As it continues to grow, it only gets better and better.

Should Gilbert be the place where you buy a home in Phoenix?

Are you thinking of calling Gilbert home? If so, reach out to me at AZLiveStyles. I would love to help you find your next home in the Phoenix Metro Area.