City Comparison
Sierra Vista vs Surprise
Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.
VS
Surprise scores higher overall
Performance
Score Breakdown
Sierra Vista
Surprise
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Sierra Vista is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run about
23% lower than in Surprise.
Housing costs are a major driver: Sierra Vista's average rent is
33% lower than Surprise's.
| Metric | Sierra Vista | Surprise | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $1,410 | $2,100 | -33% |
| Groceries | $400 | $400 | 0% |
| Utilities | $180 | $180 | 0% |
| Transport | $110 | $120 | -8% |
| Healthcare | $220 | $220 | 0% |
| Monthly Total | $2,320 | $3,020 | -23% |
| Cost Index | 92 | 98 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Surprise offers 14% 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 Sierra Vista is estimated at
$48,000 vs $60,000 in Surprise.
| Metric | Sierra Vista | Surprise |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $62,000 | $72,000 |
| Salary Needed | $48,000 | $60,000 |
| Purchasing Power | 67,391 idx | 73,469 idx |
| Household Income | $70,291 | $96,711 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Surprise runs warmer on average — a 9.5°F difference year-round.
For sunshine, Surprise comes out ahead with 15 more sunny days per year,
which can meaningfully impact mood and outdoor lifestyle.
Winter severity differs too — Sierra Vista sees 1.6 more inches of snowfall annually.
| Metric | Sierra Vista | Surprise |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 65.60°F | 75.10°F |
| Summer High | 91.10°F | 106.10°F |
| Winter Low | 40.80°F | 47.00°F |
| Rainfall | 12.20 in | 10.70 in |
| Snowfall | 1.60 in | 0.00 in |
| Sunny Days | 315 | 330 |
| Humidity | 35.00% | 30.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Sierra Vista has the shorter commute — saving residents roughly
5,000 minutes (83 hours) per year compared to Surprise.
For walkability, Sierra Vista leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | Sierra Vista | Surprise |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 18 min | 28 min |
| Transit Score | 35.0/100 | 35.0/100 |
| Walkability | 42.0/100 | 40.0/100 |
| Traffic Index | 28.00 | 52.00 |
| Car Dependency | High | High |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Surprise is the larger city
— approximately 0.3x the population of Sierra Vista.
From a growth perspective, Surprise is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
| Metric | Sierra Vista | Surprise |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 44,710 | 167,602 |
| Pop. Growth | — | 3.31% |
| Median Age | 37.9 | 41.4 |
| Unemployment | 4.20% | 4.20% |
| GDP | — | — |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
Sierra Vista
Advantages
Median home prices in Sierra Vista remain roughly 15% below the national average per Zillow market data.
Average commute times of 17.5 minutes are significantly shorter than the U.S. average per Census Bureau data.
Exceptional access to pristine outdoor recreation, including the Huachuca Mountains and San Pedro Riparian area.
Strong economic stability driven by Fort Huachuca, anchoring defense and technology jobs.
Over 315 days of sunshine annually, paired with a comfortable high-elevation climate.
Drawbacks
Summer high temperatures regularly exceed 90°F, requiring heavy air conditioning usage.
Limited public mass transit infrastructure creates a high reliance on personal vehicles.
Local wages in non-defense sectors can lag behind major metropolitan economic centers.
Geographic isolation from major metropolitan hubs requires lengthy drives for specialized entertainment or major flight hubs.
Local water resource management is an ongoing regional concern given the arid southern Arizona environment.
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.
Sierra Vista
#128Arizona, USA
66.0 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,410
Avg Salary
$62,000
Cost Index
92
Commute
18 min
Transit Score
35.0/100
Walkability
42.0/100
Sunny Days
315/yr
Avg Temp
65.60°F
Pop. Growth
%
Unemployment
4.20%
Livability
78
Business
70
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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