City Comparison
Maricopa vs Surprise
Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.
VS
Surprise scores higher overall
Performance
Score Breakdown
Maricopa
Surprise
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Maricopa is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run about
10% lower than in Surprise.
Housing costs are a major driver: Maricopa's average rent is
14% lower than Surprise's.
| Metric | Maricopa | Surprise | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $1,799 | $2,100 | -14% |
| Groceries | $400 | $400 | 0% |
| Utilities | $180 | $180 | 0% |
| Transport | $120 | $120 | 0% |
| Healthcare | $230 | $220 | +5% |
| Monthly Total | $2,729 | $3,020 | -10% |
| Cost Index | 95 | 98 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Surprise offers 10% lower average salaries.
However, when adjusted for local cost of living, Surprise delivers stronger purchasing power —
meaning your dollar stretches further day-to-day.
The minimum comfortable salary in Maricopa is estimated at
$55,000 vs $60,000 in Surprise.
| Metric | Maricopa | Surprise |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $65,000 | $72,000 |
| Salary Needed | $55,000 | $60,000 |
| Purchasing Power | 68,421 idx | 73,469 idx |
| Household Income | $96,391 | $96,711 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Both cities share a similar average temperature, within 1°F of each other.
| Metric | Maricopa | Surprise |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 74.10°F | 75.10°F |
| Summer High | 106.50°F | 106.10°F |
| Winter Low | 43.00°F | 47.00°F |
| Rainfall | 9.80 in | 10.70 in |
| Snowfall | 0.00 in | 0.00 in |
| Sunny Days | 329 | 330 |
| Humidity | 25.00% | 30.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Surprise has the shorter commute — saving residents roughly
4,500 minutes (75 hours) per year compared to Maricopa.
| Metric | Maricopa | Surprise |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 37 min | 28 min |
| Transit Score | 35.0/100 | 35.0/100 |
| Walkability | 40.0/100 | 40.0/100 |
| Traffic Index | 58.00 | 52.00 |
| Car Dependency | High | High |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Surprise is the larger city
— approximately 0.5x the population of Maricopa.
From a growth perspective, Maricopa is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
On the employment side, Surprise has a lower unemployment rate, reflecting a tighter and more competitive job market.
| Metric | Maricopa | Surprise |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 82,372 | 167,602 |
| Pop. Growth | 5.12% | 3.31% |
| Median Age | 36.8 | 41.4 |
| Unemployment | 5.30% | 4.20% |
| GDP | — | — |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
Maricopa
Advantages
Median home property values (~$377,200) remain substantially more affordable than nearby Phoenix and East Valley housing markets.
Consistently ranks among the top 10 safest cities in Arizona according to recent safety reports and municipal data.
Features a young, highly diverse population with top-rated diverse school districts in the greater region.
Strong homeownership rate exceeding 80%, providing stable, master-planned suburban neighborhoods.
Rapidly expanding local retail, dining, and commercial developments reducing the need to travel for daily necessities.
Drawbacks
Heavy reliance on State Route 347 creates long commute times and traffic bottleneck concerns during peak hours.
Extreme summer high temperatures exceeding 106°F restrict outdoor daytime activities for several months.
Limited public transit infrastructure makes car ownership mandatory for all daily tasks and employment commuting.
Scarcity of major local high-tech or corporate employment hubs requires long-distance commuting or remote work.
High summer electricity utility costs required to maintain home cooling during prolonged heatwaves.
Surprise
Advantages
Ranks consistently among the top safest cities in Arizona with low violent crime rates.
Average rent and home prices remain more affordable compared to central Phoenix and Scottsdale.
Hosts Major League Baseball Spring Training at the state-of-the-art Surprise Stadium.
Median household income of $96,711 significantly outperforms the national and state averages.
Abundant sunshine with over 330 sunny days per year supporting an active outdoor lifestyle.
Drawbacks
High summer temperatures exceeding 106°F make outdoor activities difficult during peak afternoons.
High car dependency with limited public mass transit options within the city.
Rapid population growth has occasionally introduced traffic congestion along major commuter corridors.
Significant spike in summer electricity and cooling utility bills due to extreme desert heat.
Summer monsoon season can occasionally bring brief, intense dust storms and heavy rainfall.
Explore
Dive Deeper
Key figures side by side — see which city wins each category at a glance.
Maricopa
#42Arizona, USA
71.1 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,799
Avg Salary
$65,000
Cost Index
95
Commute
37 min
Transit Score
35.0/100
Walkability
40.0/100
Sunny Days
329/yr
Avg Temp
74.10°F
Pop. Growth
5.12%
Unemployment
5.30%
Livability
75
Business
67
Surprise
#13Arizona, USA
74.7 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$2,100
Avg Salary
$72,000
Cost Index
98
Commute
28 min
Transit Score
35.0/100
Walkability
40.0/100
Sunny Days
330/yr
Avg Temp
75.10°F
Pop. Growth
3.31%
Unemployment
4.20%
Livability
80
Business
72
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