At a Glance
Median Income
$93,371
$39,604 per capita
Home Value
$396,000
Zillow: $415,995
Median Rent
$1,917/mo
31.9% of income on rent
Violent Crime
109/100K
885/100K property
Bachelor's Degree+
31.0%
94.3% high school+
Unemployment
4.2%
5.3% poverty rate
Obesity Rate
30.0%
11.0% smoking rate
How Surprise Compares to the U.S. Average
Each bar shows Surprise's value as a percentage of the national average (100% = U.S. avg)
Thin vertical line = U.S. national average (100%)
Is Surprise a Good Place to Live?
B
3.3 / 5.0 - Good
Based on economy, affordability, safety, and education metrics compared to national averages.
Economy & Jobs
Surprise residents earn a median household income of $93,371 , which is 24% above the national average of $75,149.
Per capita income is $39,604. The unemployment rate stands at 4.2% (17% above the U.S. rate of 3.6%). 5.3% of residents live below the poverty line. The area is home to 142,693 business establishments, including 9,181 restaurants.
Housing & Cost of Living
The median home value in Surprise is $396,000 , 40% above the national median of $281,900.
Zillow estimates the typical home at $415,995. Median rent is $1,917/month, with 31.9% of renters spending more than 30% of income on housing. The cost of living index is 100.7 (100 = national average). The median home was built in 2004.
Safety & Crime
Surprise reports 109 violent crimes per 100,000 residents
, which is 71% below the national average of 380/100K.
Property crime is 885/100K. The murder rate is 7.4/100K.
Education
31.0% of adults in Surprise hold a bachelor's degree or higher
(8% below the national average).
94.3% have completed high school. Local schools score 5.4/10 in standardized testing.
Climate & Weather
Surprise has an average annual temperature of 70°F (21°C).
Winters average 52°F in January while summers reach 91°F in July. Annual precipitation totals 9.6 inches. Air quality is rated Moderate with a median AQI of 77.
Data Overview
People
Population149,519
Median Age41.6 yrs
Density1,353/mi²
Male / Female47% / 53%
Foreign Born6.8%
Veterans11.2%
Economy
A+
Median Income$93,371
Per Capita$39,604
Unemployment4.2%
Poverty5.3%
County GDP$419,250M
Avg Weekly Wage$1,420
Housing
A
Home Value$396,000
Rent$1,917
Ownership79.0%
Zillow$415,995
Housing Units58,826
Rent Burden31.9%
Crime
F
Violent109/100K
Property885/100K
Murder7.4/100K
Assault74/100K
Burglary94/100K
Health
Obesity30.0%
Diabetes8.7%
Smoking11.0%
Heart Disease4.8%
Premature Death8,525/100K
Climate
Avg Temp70°F
Rain9.6 in/yr
AQI77 (Moderate)
Elevation1,352 ft
Education
B
Bachelor's+31.0%
High School+94.3%
Graduate+10.9%
School Score5.4/10
Community
2024 VoteR 51% / D 48%
Commute30 min
Broadband95.2%
Internet Speed151 Mbps
EV Stations21
Libraries65
Did You Know?
Surprise was founded in 1937.
The median home in Surprise was built in 2004.
17.6% work from home.
The nearest airport is Phoenix Sky Harbor International (30 miles).
The Gini coefficient (income inequality) is 0.456 (U.S. avg: 0.490).
Natural hazard risk is rated "Very High" by FEMA.
12.7% of the population has a disability.
Average internet download speed is 151 Mbps.
There are 9,181 restaurants in the area.
The county recorded 630 fatal vehicle crashes.
364 declared natural disasters on record.