Surprise, Arizona
Cost of living, housing, income, commute, climate, and safety — compiled for relocators researching Surprise, AZ.
MapsToIt planning snapshot
How much does it cost to live in Surprise, AZ?
Surprise, AZ has a MapsToIt housing cost index of 136 (above the U.S. housing-cost baseline; 100 = U.S. avg). Median home value is about $396,000 and median rent about $1,917, against national ACS medians of $303,400 and $1,348. Median household income is roughly $93,371. Typical commute is 25 minutes; summer highs average 103°F. Violent-offense rates run about 97.9 per 100k (catalog avg 559.5).
Crime figures may use an older source vintage than housing and income on this page.
- Housing cost index
- 136U.S. avg 100
- Median home value
- $396,000U.S. $303,400
- Median rent
- $1,917U.S. $1,348
- Median income
- $93,371U.S. $78,538
- Unemployment
- 4.8%U.S. 4.2%
- Avg commute
- 25 minCatalog avg 25 min
- Violent crime
- 97.9per 100k · catalog avg 559.5
- Summer high
- 103°FCatalog avg 87°F
Key figures
Each metric shows how Surprise compares with a U.S. baseline (ACS/BLS nationals) or a MapsToIt catalog average (crime, climate, and commute). Income, housing, population, and crime are for the incorporated city (city limits), not the broader metro/MSA — unemployment is county-level (BLS LAUS).
- Population
- 167,564City limits · Census PEP 2024 estimate
As of 2026-10-19 · Census PEP 2024 - Median household income
- $93,371Incorporated place (ACS)
As of 2026-10-19 · ACS 2023 5-year19% above U.S. avgU.S. $78,538 - Housing cost index
- 136ACS home+rent vs U.S. (100 = avg)
As of 2026-10-19 · ACS 2023 5-year36% above U.S. avgU.S. 100 - Median home value
- $396,000City limits (ACS)
As of 2026-10-19 · ACS 2023 5-year31% above U.S. avgU.S. $303,400 - Median rent
- $1,917City limits (ACS)
As of 2026-10-19 · ACS 2023 5-year42% above U.S. avgU.S. $1,348 - Unemployment
- 4.8%County LAUS · not city-only
As of 2026-10-19 · August 20260.6 pts above U.S. rateU.S. 4.2% - Avg commute
- 25 minNear catalog avg (25 min)Catalog avg 25 min
- Violent crime rate
- 97.9per 100k · citywide
As of 2026-10-19 · 2019 offenses (FBI Table 8 fallback) · older data (2019)83% below catalog avgCatalog avg 559.5 - Property crime rate
- 1477.7per 100k · citywide
As of 2026-10-19 · 2019 offenses (FBI Table 8 fallback) · older data (2019)51% below catalog avgCatalog avg 3005.3 - Summer high
- 103°FAs of 2026-10-19 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals16.0 pts above catalog avgCatalog avg 87°F
- Winter low
- 44°FAs of 2026-10-19 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals9.0 pts above catalog avgCatalog avg 35°F
- Annual rainfall
- 8.9 inAs of 2026-10-19 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals73% below catalog avgCatalog avg 33.2 in
- Sunny days
- 330As of 2026-10-19 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals23% above catalog avgCatalog avg 268
Population trend
Surprise grew 42.4% from 117,643 in 2010 to 167,564 in 2024.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau PEP city/town estimates (2010–2024). Playback steps monthly between annual Census PEP estimates.
Is Surprise, AZ expensive compared to the U.S. average?
Surprise's housing cost index is 136 versus 100 nationally — above the U.S. housing-cost baseline. That gap is driven mainly by ACS median home values ($396,000 vs $303,400) and rents ($1,917 vs $1,348).
- Housing cost index 136 (U.S. 100)
- Median home $396,000 vs U.S. $303,400
- Median rent $1,917 vs U.S. $1,348
How much does housing cost in Surprise, AZ?
Typical ownership costs center near $396,000, while median gross rent is about $1,917 a month. Against a median household income of $93,371, rent alone is roughly 25% of income on an annualized basis.
- Median home value $396,000
- Median rent $1,917/month
- Median household income $93,371
What is the job market like in Surprise, AZ?
County unemployment recently ran 4.8% versus a U.S. rate of 4.2%. Median household income in Surprise is about $93,371 (U.S. $78,538).
- Unemployment 4.8% (U.S. 4.2%)
- Median income $93,371
How long is the typical commute in Surprise, AZ?
Average one-way commute time is about 25 minutes. The catalog-city average commute is 25 minutes.
- 25 minutes average one-way
Is Surprise, AZ safer than similar U.S. cities?
Published violent-offense rates are about 97.9 per 100k and property about 1477.7 per 100k, versus catalog averages of 559.5 and 3005.3. Citywide rates hide large neighborhood differences.
- Violent 97.9 per 100k
- Property 1477.7 per 100k
What is the climate like year-round in Surprise, AZ?
Normals show summer highs near 103°F, winter lows near 44°F, about 8.9 inches of rain, and roughly 330 sunny days a year.
- Summer high 103°F
- Winter low 44°F
- 8.9 in rain · 330 sunny days
Which neighborhoods do relocators research in Surprise, AZ?
Newcomers often start with Surprise Farms, Asante, Sun City Grand-adjacent — tour at commute hour before signing. Neighborhood lists are curated research starting points, not rankings.
- Surprise Farms
- Asante
- Sun City Grand-adjacent
Surprise (pop. 167,564) sits in Arizona. Median household income is roughly $93,371, while the ACS housing-cost index sits near 136 — above the national housing-cost baseline (100 ≈ U.S. average). Ownership is a high bar — typical values near $396,000 push many newcomers toward renting first.
Newcomers often start housing searches in Surprise Farms and Asante, then compare against Sun City Grand-adjacent once a commute target is clear. Figures on this page are merged from Census ACS, BLS LAUS, FBI crime figures, and NOAA Climate Normals — use them to compare Surprise with nearby alternatives before you relocate.
Desert heat and monsoon bursts define the outdoor calendar. Summer highs near 103°F make shade, pools, and strong A/C practical necessities. Plan on roughly 25 minutes each way for a typical commute. Unemployment recently ran near 4.8%, broadly in line with many large U.S. counties. Violent-offense rates near 97.9 per 100k compare favorably with many peer metros, though local blocks still differ.
Neighborhoods often researched
- Surprise Farms
- Asante
- Sun City Grand-adjacent
Nearby & similar cities
Continue researching with these internal links — each page is a full data profile.
Sources
- Census / ACS: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 5-year (Surprise city, 1600000US0471510) — As of 2026-10-19 · ACS 2023 5-year
- BLS: BLS LAUS · Maricopa County, August 2026 — As of 2026-10-19 · August 2026
- Crime: FBI CIUS Table 8 (2019), city offenses per 100k — As of 2026-10-19 · 2019 offenses (FBI Table 8 fallback)
- Climate: NOAA 1991–2020 Monthly Normals (USW00003184 PHOENIX DEER VALLEY MUNI AP) — As of 2026-10-19 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals
- Population trend: U.S. Census Bureau PEP city/town estimates (2010–2024) — As of 2026-10-19 · Census PEP 2024
Catalog refreshed 2026-10-19