Surprise, AZ, known as 'The City of Surprise,' offers a unique blend of suburban tranquility and modern urban amenities. Located in Maricopa County, Surprise is a large city that serves as a major cultural and economic hub. Major nearby cities like Phoenix (20 miles) and Glendale (10 miles) enhance its status as a central point in the region. Surprise's blend of scenic landscapes, cultural festivals, and urban amenities creates a distinctive living experience.
Surprise is home to several iconic landmarks, including the Surprise Stadium, the historic Marley Park, and the scenic White Tank Mountain Regional Park. The city offers a variety of attractions, from the beautiful Surprise Community Park to the bustling Surprise Marketplace, known for its shopping and dining. Surprise's dining scene is diverse, offering everything from Southwestern cuisine to international dishes.
Annual events such as the Surprise Fine Art & Wine Festival and the Surprise Party highlight the city's vibrant cultural scene and provide unique entertainment opportunities for residents and visitors. These events celebrate Surprise's rich cultural heritage and community spirit. Prestigious institutions like Ottawa University Arizona contribute to the city's academic and cultural vibrancy, fostering a thriving intellectual community.
The arts and culture scene in Surprise is dynamic and diverse, with numerous theaters, music venues, and art galleries. The West Valley Arts Council and the Arts HQ Gallery are just a few of the cultural landmarks that showcase the city's commitment to the arts. Living in Surprise provides ample opportunities to engage with art, music, and history, making it an exciting place to call home.
Surprise’s community is welcoming and diverse, creating a friendly environment for newcomers. The city is home to professional sports teams like the Arizona Cardinals (NFL) and the Arizona Diamondbacks (MLB), providing plenty of excitement for sports fans. Major industries in Surprise include healthcare, education, and retail, with significant employers such as Banner Health and the Dysart Unified School District driving economic growth. The city has extensive public transit options, including buses, making commuting convenient for residents...
Crime
This area boasts a crime rate that is far below the national average, making it a very safe place to live. These crime statistics encompass both property and violent offenses.
Employment
With higher than average median household income, income per capita and lower unemployment rates, this area scores extremely well in the employment category.
Housing
Impressive scores in the housing category characterize this area, potentially attributed to the availability of affordable housing, strong appreciation rates and high home values.
Amenities
The majority of amenities will be difficult to reach within a short walk, often requiring residents to use a vehicle or public transportation for access.
Commute
Low commute scores could be due to limited access to public transit in this area, as well as longer-than-average work commute times for residents.
Surprise is a moderately-sized city located in the state of Arizona. The city has a population of 142,589 inhabitants. According to the most recent Census, 83% of Surprise residents are White, 5% Black and 3% Asian. An important consideration when living in Surprise is the longer-than-average commute times. If you seek a short work commute, this area may not be the best choice for you. The one-way commute time here typically takes 31 minutes, far surpassing the national average of 26 minutes.
Are you trying to decide if living in Surprise is the right fit for your lifestyle? To ensure a fulfilling experience before relocating to any new city in Arizona, you will probably want to make sure that you check all of the most important boxes. Several key factors deserve attention. For one, safety is paramount, ensuring that your new area is low in crime is key. Proximity to workplaces or schools minimizes commute times and fosters convenience. Access to essential amenities like parks, grocery stores, food, fitness, shops and healthcare facilities enhances daily life. Efficient public transportation options provide mobility and connectivity. The sense of community creates a welcoming and supportive environment. Lastly, the overall atmosphere, encompassing the vibe, aesthetics, and lifestyle offerings, contributes to a fulfilling living experience. Considering these elements helps identify the ideal neighborhood for your needs and preferences. With useful information like commute, employment, housing and other key data points, finding the best places to live in Surprise and in the areas around Surprise is a much easier task.
Surprise has a livability score of 74 out of 100 and is ranked #19 in Arizona and #4,208 in the USA. If we consider each of the categories individually, we see that Surprise ranks well for crime (A), cost of living (B-), employment (A-) and housing (A+). On a more negative note, Surprise does not have favorable ranks for the following: amenities (D-). If we take a look at the data, we can find out why.
Ensuring a sense of security is paramount for the majority of residents in any area. Low crime rates exert a positive influence on various aspects, including home prices, rates of home appreciation and the cultivation of positive community dynamics and social cohesion. In the case of Surprise, it boasts a notably low violent crime rate of 109 crimes per 100,000 residents, which significantly outperforms the national average.
When contemplating a move, job prospects often top the list of priorities. In Surprise, the outlook for new employment is notably brighter than in many other areas. The low unemployment rate of 2.7% points to a surge in job opportunities, the potential for higher wages, enhanced workforce productivity and increased economic growth. These favorable conditions bode well for individuals seeking career advancement and financial stability, making this area an appealing destination for those prioritizing professional opportunities and economic prosperity.
A healthy real estate market serves as a key economic indicator. It could signify overall local economic strength, stability and reflects consumer confidence in the area. Based on multiple factors including: median home and rental prices, appreciation rates and home affordability, Surprise has received high marks in the housing category. Based on these calculations, the apartment rental and real estate market appears to be very healthy.
Certain items on your wish list like shopping, restaurants, nightlife, parks and proximity to public transportation are all important things to look for. Having said that, perhaps the most important metric to consider when contemplating a move to Surprise is real estate affordability. Median real estate prices in Surprise come in at $470,443, which is 51% higher than the Arizona average. The home price to income ratio compares the median home prices to the median household income. In Surprise, the home price to income ratio is 4.4, which is 7.3% higher than the Arizona average.
Why stop at city-to-city? With Local Insights, you can compare neighborhoods, zip codes, or even exact addresses. Access 300+ hyperlocal data points—from schools and crime to housing and amenities—to see which area is the better fit.
| Statistic | Surprise | Arizona | National |
| Average one way commute | 31min | 25min | 26min |
| Workers who drive to work | 79.1% | 76.7% | 76.4% |
| Workers who carpool | 9.2% | 10.9% | 9.3% |
| Workers who take public transit | 0.2% | 2.0% | 5.1% |
| Workers who bicycle | 0.5% | 1.0% | 0.6% |
| Workers who walk | 0.6% | 2.0% | 2.8% |
| Working from home | 8.9% | 5.7% | 4.6% |
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