A
35%
Total crime NAT. AVG.
68%
Violent crime NAT. AVG.
28%
Property crime NAT. AVG.
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Date & Last Updated: This data reflects the 2022 calendar year and was released from the FBI in September, 2023; this is the most current data available.
StatisticReportedincidents/100k peopleSurprise/100k peopleArizona/100k peopleNational/100k people
Total crime2,345n/a (estimate)1,5212,4892,324
Murder2n/a1.36.86.3
Rape23n/a14.944.140.0
Robbery35n/a22.770.166.1
Assault122n/a79.2310.5268.2
Violent crime182n/a (estimate)118432370
Burglary203n/a131.7271.0269.8
Theft1,811n/a1,175.01,542.41,401.9
Vehicle theft149n/a96.7244.2282.7
Property crime2,163n/a (estimate)1,4032,0581,954

An Overview of Crime Rates in Surprise, AZ

Crime can be categorized into two primary types: violent and property crimes. Violent crimes encompass offenses such as murder, rape, robbery, and assault, whereas property crimes involve acts like burglary, theft, and vehicle theft. The overall crime rate in Surprise is 34.5% lower than the national average. Specifically, there were 182 violent crimes reported in Surprise, equivalent to 118 per 100,000 residents, which is lower than the national average by 68.1%. Additionally, Surprise recorded 2163 property crimes, amounting to 1403 per 100,000 people, lower than the national average by 28.2%.

Surprise has one of the lowest violent crime rates of all cities in the United States. With a rate of 118 violent crimes per 100,000 people, Surprise ranks among the safest cities in the United States making it an attractive choice for those seeking a new place to call home.

What Do the Locals Say About Crime in Surprise?

AreaVibes conducted surveys inquiring about the safety perception of Surprise residents. Out of the respondents (58 in total), 74% expressed a strong sense of security, believing that crime rates in Surprise were low, and they felt comfortable walking alone at night. Conversely, 26% held a contrasting viewpoint, expressing concerns about safety in the area and feeling uncomfortable walking alone during the nighttime hours.

Is Surprise a Safe Place to Live?

To get a feel for the safety of living in Surprise, it's essential to analyze both the overall crime rate and the daily incident count. Surprise presents a total crime rate that is 35% lower than the national average per 100,000 residents. Consequently, Surprise experiences an average of 6.42 daily crimes, comprising 0.5 violent incidents and 5.93 property-related offenses. This evaluation offers a comprehensive understanding of the safety landscape, aiding individuals in making informed decisions when considering relocation.

Has Crime in Surprise Increased Since Last Year?

Year-over-year crime rates in Surprise has decreased by 0% in the last reported crime report. Comparing crime rates from one year to another offers some insight into whether or not Surprise is becoming a safer or more dangerous place to live. Crime rates are categorized by violent and property crime. Year-over-year violent crime has decreased by 5.7%, while property crime has decreased by 0.5%. This analysis equips individuals with crucial information for making informed decisions about living in Surprise.

Potential Causes for Crime in Surprise

Surprise has a poverty rate of 7.6, while the national average is 15.1. In the past, there has been a direct correlation between high or low poverty rates and high or low crime stats. Elevated poverty levels and income disparities can contribute to heightened criminal activity, as individuals may resort to unlawful means to address their fundamental necessities. While lower poverty levels have led to a reduction in typical crime levels compared to other areas.

The educational level within a community can have an influence on crime rates. Typically, higher levels of education are associated with reduced crime rates, as they offer individuals improved employment prospects and alternatives to engaging in criminal activities. Conversely, lower educational attainment tends to correspond with higher crime rates. In Surprise, 88.9% of residents have achieved at least a high school diploma, which differs from the national average of 83%.

In areas where housing affordability is an issue, crime can become a significant concern. Some individuals and families may be forced to live in overcrowded or substandard housing conditions, which can increase stress and potentially contribute to domestic disputes and related crimes. The median home price in Surprise is $258,700, compared to a national average of $184,700.

Surprise crime map



The Surprise crime map provides a detailed overview of all crimes in Surprise as reported by the local law enforcement agencies. Based on the color coded legend above, the crime map outlines the areas with lower crime compared to the areas with higher crime. The Surprise crime heat map offers insight into the total crimes on a block group level. Please note that the red areas on the Surprise crime map does not always indicate that it is a dangerous area for its residents. Areas on the heat map could be inflated if they are located in high traffic areas like airports, sports centers or large parks. Other areas on the heat map could see increased crime rates if they are located in major tourist areas like the downtown core.
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Compare Surprise, AZ Crime

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      Crime Quick Facts

      • Surprise crime rates are 35% lower than the national average
      • Violent crimes in Surprise are 68% lower than the national average
      • In Surprise you have a 1 in 66 chance of becoming a victim of crime
      • Surprise is safer than 63% of the cities in the United States
      • Year over year crime in Surprise has decreased by 5%

      Surprise, AZ Crime Quiz

         

        Safest Places to Live in and Around Surprise

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        Daily Crime In Surprise (per 100,000 people)

        The graph above illustrates the number of daily crimes in Surprise, AZ per 100,000 people. In Surprise, the total number of daily crimes is 1.64 times less than the Arizona average and 1.53 times less than the national average. The number of daily violent crimes in Surprise is 3.65 times less than the Arizona average and 3.13 times less than the national average. With regards to property crimes, Surprise has a daily crime rate that is 1.47 times less than the Arizona average and 1.39 times less than the national average.

        How Safe is Surprise (higher is better)

        What are the odds that you'll be safer in Surprise, Arizona compared to other areas of Arizona, as well as the rest of America? When it comes down to it, is Surprise safe? In the graphs above, it shows that Surprise is safer than 70% of Arizona cities, and 63% compared to all other cities across America. These statistics are calculated by taking a closer look at each city's crime rate in Arizona, as well as the rest of the US. It is then determined which cities see less crime than Surprise. At this time, Surprise sees a above average rate of crime in comparison to other United States cities.

        Chance of Being A Victim of Crime in Surprise

        The chance of being a victim of violent crime in Surprise is 1 in 847
        The chance of being a victim of property crime in Surprise is 1 in 72
        The chance of being a victim of crime in Surprise is 1 in 66
        Are you worried about becoming a crime victim? In Surprise, your chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime is 1 in 847. Types of violent crimes may include assault, robbery, rape, or murder. You also have a 1 in 72 chance of being the victim of a property crime such as vehicle theft, personal property theft, and burglary. Your overall risk of becoming a crime victim in Surprise is 1 in 66.

        Year Over Year Crime In Surprise (per 100,000 people)

        Determining whether Surprise is becoming less or more safe for its residents (per 100,000) is most easily done by comparing year-over-year crime rates. Surprise violent crime rates have decreased by 11%. At the same time, property crime has decreased by 5% year over year. Total crimes for Surprise has decreased by 5% in the same time frame.

        Surprise police department

        Item Surprise Arizona National
        Law enforcement employees (officers & civilians)17512,274558,732
        Police officers & civilians /1000 residents1.43.13.3
        There are a total of 175 Surprise police officers. This results in 1.4 police officers per 1,000 residents which is 53.3% less than the Arizona average and 55.4% less than the National average.

        Sex offenders in Arizona

        State Total offenders Arizona /100K National /100K
        Arizona8,206157266
        There are a total of 8,206 sex offenders in Arizona. This yields a total of 157 sex offenders in Arizona per 100,000 residents which is 41% less than the national average.

        Nearby Cities With Low Crime Rates

        City Population Violent crime/100k people Property crime/100k people Total crime/100k people
        Citrus Park, AZ5,744112535647
        Anthem, AZ23,5081949241,118
        Litchfield Park, AZ6,2282721,2731,545
        Peoria, AZ172,1091951,3821,577
        El Mirage, AZ35,7023301,4181,748
        Goodyear, AZ83,5191691,8612,030
        Sun City West, AZ26,0433741,7812,155
        Surprise, AZ139,0071181,4031,521

        Cities with similar population

        City Population Violent crime/100k people Property crime/100k people Total crime/100k people
        Roseville, CA138,8601631,8852,048
        Olathe, KS139,2162241,2081,432
        Orange, CA139,3224612,1582,618
        Metairie, LA138,5114291,8742,303
        Denton, TX139,7342892,3812,669
        Surprise, AZ139,0071181,4031,521
        Source: The Surprise, AZ crime data displayed above is derived from the FBI's uniform crime reports for the year of 2022. The crime report encompasses more than 18,000 city and state law enforcement agencies reporting data on property and violent crimes. The uniform crime reports program represents approximately 309 million American residents, which results in 98% coverage of metropolitan statistical areas.