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Suburb0
Phoenix

Surprise

#30 in Best Places to Retire in Arizona
  • B
    Overall Grade
  • Suburb of Phoenix, AZ
  • 429 reviews
    B
    Overall Niche Grade
    How are grades calculated?
    1. Public Schools
      B-
    2. Crime & Safety
      C+
    3. Housing
      B-
    4. Nightlife
      C+
    5. Good for Families
      B-
    6. Diversity
      A-
    7. Jobs
      B
    8. Weather
      A+
    9. Cost of Living
      C+
    10. Health & Fitness
      A-
    11. Outdoor Activities
      B+
    12. Commute
      C+
    View Full Report Card
    Surprise is a suburb of Phoenix with a population of 129,534. Surprise is in Maricopa County. Living in Surprise offers residents a sparse suburban feel and most residents own their homes. In Surprise there are a lot of parks. Many families, young professionals, and retirees live in Surprise and residents tend to lean conservative. The public schools in Surprise are above average.
    About Surprise...
    Population
    129,534

    Real Estate

    Median Home Value
    $213,600
    National
    $184,700
    Median Rent
    $1,219
    National
    $949
    Area Feel
    Sparse Suburban
    Rent vs. Own
    • Rent
      26%
    • Own
      74%
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    Surprise Rankings

    Niche ranks thousands of places to live based on key statistics from the U.S. Census and and expert insights.

    Crime & Safety

    Crime & Safety
    C+
    Based on violent and property crime rates.
    Violent Crimes
    • Calculated annually per 100,000 residents
    National
    • Assault
      73.2
      282.7
    • Murder
      5.1
      6.1
    • Rape
      15.4
      40.7
    • Robbery
      27.1
      135.5
    Property Crimes
    • Calculated annually per 100,000 residents
    National
    • Burglary
      174.9
      500.1
    • Theft
      1,223.9
      2,042.8
    • Motor Vehicle Theft
      140.5
      284

    Residents

    Diversity
    A-
    Based on ethnic and economic diversity.
    Age
    • <10 years
      13%
    • 10-17 years
      11%
    • 18-24 years
      7%
    • 25-34 years
      11%
    • 35-44 years
      14%
    • 45-54 years
      12%
    • 55-64 years
      10%
    • 65+ years
      23%
    Education Levels
    National
    • Master's degree or higher
      9%
      12%
    • Bachelor's degree
      18%
      19%
    • Some college or associate's degree
      39%
      29%
    • High school diploma or equivalent
      26%
      28%
    • Less than high school diploma
      8%
      13%

    Working in Surprise

    Jobs
    B
    Based on employment rates, job and business growth, and cost of living.
    Median Household Income
    $62,927
    National
    $55,322
    Search for Jobs in Surprise

    Places to Work in Surprise

    • Public Schools
    • Private Schools
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    Surprise Reviews

    429 reviews
    All Categories
    Surprise is a continuously growing suburb near Phoenix. The city is a safe, calm area, that has many families. Along with families, the city also has many retirement communities. It is a rather quiet city and doesn't have too much nightlife aside from local bars. The city is continuing developing and new houses are being built each day. This is a great place for families looking for the typical life in the suburbs or retired folks looking for a nice place to relax and have fun!
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    Surprise is very great place to live, there are new homes and communities and even apartments. In my neighborhood, there is a big park with water park, skate park, and a basketball court. Near the park there is a huge dog park and are divided in to two or three corners so you can let your small dogs or big dogs or even both size dogs can play together. Overall, my neighborhood is peaceful and friendly, I feel calm living here!
    I grew up and Surprise and I would say it is a fairly safe place for families and children. In every city, there are always more safe areas than others but Surprise has amazing neighborhoods and areas designed specifically for raising children. There are many school options and activity-centered businesses around town. It is affordable and has a decent amount of job opportunities. The grocery store are mostly new and the city is seeing a lot of growth. Many roads are being re-done as well as starting many new businesses. As more people go there for the warm weather and calm atmopshere I see Surprise getting very popular.