Smart Movers Club

    Moving to Surprise, AZ

    Is Surprise a good place to live?

    Watch Surprise

    Surprise ranks #9 of 38 Arizona cities with 25,000+ people on the Smart Movers livability score (65/100), which weighs home affordability, unemployment, education and population growth. Population grew 2.7% in the latest Census year.

    Median home value
    $396,000
    +12.3% vs prior year
    Median rent
    $1,917
    per month
    Household income
    $93,371
    median
    Unemployment
    4.2%
    lower is better

    Cost of living in Surprise

    The median home value in Surprise is $396,000 and median rent is $1,917 a month, against a median household income of $93,371. Homes cost about 4.2× a year of income (under 3× is considered affordable).

    Surprise crime rate

    City-level FBI figures vary by agency; across Arizona the 2025 rate was 383 violent and 1,541 property crimes per 100,000 people — #20 highest of 50 states. The full report breaks down local trends.

    Moving to Surprise, AZ

    Surprise has about 149,519 residents, 4.2% unemployment and 20% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher.

    Compare Surprise with

    Surprise vs PhoenixSurprise vs TucsonSurprise vs MesaSurprise vs ChandlerSurprise vs GilbertSurprise vs GlendaleSurprise vs ScottsdaleSurprise vs Peoria

    More: Where to move in Arizona · Best counties in Arizona

    Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year estimates (2023, compared with 2022); FBI Crime Data Explorer.

    Home listings, local news, migration, schools, resources and the Smart Movers Grade & Verdict.

    See the full Smart Movers Club report