Surprise, AZ Local Data & Statistics

State: AZ

Total population: 154,948 Household income: $96,711 Rent: $2,033

Overview

Total population

154,948

Rent

$2,033

Year built

2005

Household income

$96,711

Per capita income

$41,888

Poverty rate

8.6%

Unemployment rate

3.1%

Household size

2.7 persons

Rent over 30% of income

52.9%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Data are sourced from the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, 2024 release — the latest dataset currently available, with the exception of the unemployment rate, which is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). ACS 5-year estimates are published annually, about 6–12 months after the end of each reference year.

Demographics

State

Arizona

Total population

154,948

Adults over 25

107,494

Total households

56,506

Household size

2.7 persons

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Income & Poverty

Household income

$96,711

Per capita income

$41,888

Poverty rate

8.6%

Unemployment rate

3.1%

Rent over 30% of income

52.9%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Housing

Rent

$2,033

Year built

2005

Households that rent

20.9%

Households that own

79.1%

Rooms per home (all homes)

5.9

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Race

White

71.7%

Black

4.6%

Asian

2.6%

Two or more races

13.9%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Ethnicity

Hispanic or Latino

20%

Not Hispanic or Latino

80%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Commute

Commute rate

80.5%

Commute time to work

30 mins

Work from home

19.5%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Education

Less than high school

32.1%

High school graduate or GED

25.3%

Some college or associate degree

12%

Bachelor’s degree or higher

30.5%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Comparison of Surprise, AZ with: Arizona United States

Surprise, AZ

Total population154,948

Rent$2,033

Year built2005

Household income$96,711

Per capita income$41,888

Poverty rate8.6%

Unemployment rate3.1%

Arizona State

Total population7,378,838

Rent$1,543

Year built1992

Household income$79,964

Per capita income$42,503

Poverty rate12.5%

Unemployment rate3.6%

United States

Total population334,922,499

Rent$1,413

Year built1980

Household income$80,734

Per capita income$44,673

Poverty rate12.5%

Unemployment rate4%

Metric	CitySurprise, AZ	StateArizona	CountryUnited States
Total population	154,948	7,378,838	334,922,499
Rent	$2,033	$1,543	$1,413
Year built	2005	1992	1980
Household income	$96,711	$79,964	$80,734
Per capita income	$41,888	$42,503	$44,673
Poverty rate	8.6%	12.5%	12.5%
Unemployment rate	3.1%	3.6%	4%

View the complete comparison of Surprise, AZ, Arizona and United States →

Summary for Surprise, AZ

Surprise is located in Arizona.

Rent & Income

In Surprise, the typical monthly rent is $2,033 and the typical household income is $96,711. Rent here is higher than in both Arizona and the U.S., and household income is also higher than in both. The estimated poverty rate is 8.6%, which is lower than in both Arizona and national.

Housing & Affordability

This area is primarily owner-occupied, with renters accounting for about 20.9% of households. About 52.9% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing, indicating high cost burden.

Education & Employment

Educational attainment is moderate, with about 30.5% of adults holding a bachelor’s degree or higher. The local unemployment rate is 3.1%, which is lower than both Arizona and the national rate.

Surprise, AZ — Rent vs Household Income

Surprise, AZ — Poverty vs Unemployment

How Surprise, AZ compares in Arizona (20 places)

Metric	This place	Rank	Starts from	Statewide range
Rent	$2,033	18 / 20	from lower rent	$1,114 – $2,210
Household income	$96,711	8 / 20	from higher income	$57,073 – $141,978
Poverty rate	8.6%	10 / 20	from lower poverty	3.7% – 18.9%
Unemployment rate	3.1%	9 / 20	from lower unemployment	2.7% – 10.3%

Rankings are calculated among cities and communities in Arizona with total population > 50,000 (year 2024).

Detailed Ranking Explanation for Surprise, AZ

Rent

In rent comparisons, Surprise comes in 18th out of 20 large places. Across Arizona, rents vary from $1,114 in Yuma, AZ to $2,210 in Queen Creek, AZ.

Household income

For median household income, Surprise is ranked 8th out of 20 large areas. Statewide incomes span from $57,073 in Tucson, AZ to $141,978 in Queen Creek, AZ.

Poverty rate

Poverty levels put Surprise in 10th place among 20 significant areas. Across Arizona, poverty ranges between 3.7% and 18.9%.

Unemployment rate

Unemployment levels put Surprise in 9th place among 20 large places. Statewide unemployment spans from 2.7% in Gilbert, AZ to 10.3% in Yuma, AZ.

💰 Rent in Surprise, AZ (with Utilities)

Estimated Monthly Rent: $2,033 ℹ️ What’s Included:
✅ Base rent, electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuels
❌ Not included: internet, cable TV, renter's insurance, parking

💡 What does this rent estimate mean?

Explanation: This estimate shows what renters typically pay each month for housing, including the apartment or home and essential utilities such as heat, water, and electricity. Even when utilities are billed separately, an estimated average cost for utilities is included, in line with the U.S. Census Bureau’s (ACS) definition of gross rent.

Included in this number: Rent plus electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuel.

Not included: Internet, cable, parking, renter’s insurance, or furniture rental.

Note: This cost does not depend on the number of people living in the home.

👨‍👧‍👦 Household Income in Surprise, AZ

Annual Household Income: $96,711

💡 What does Household Income mean?

Definition: This represents the middle value of all household incomes in this area — half of households earn less, and half earn more.

Includes: wages, salaries, self-employment income, Social Security, pensions, investments, unemployment, public assistance, and rental income.

Does NOT include: capital gains, non-cash benefits (like food stamps), or tax refunds.

Household = any group of people (or a single person) living in the same housing unit.

Example: A couple earning $40,000 and $30,000 together have a household income of $70,000. If that's in the middle of all local incomes, it's the value shown here.

📉 Poverty Rate in Surprise, AZ

Estimated Rate: 8.6%

💡 What does the Poverty Rate represent?

Definition: The percentage of people in this area living below the federal poverty threshold.

How it works: The threshold is a dollar amount set by the U.S. Census Bureau that varies by family size and age. If a household's income is below that level, everyone in it is included in this rate.

Example: In a town of 10,000 people, if 1,500 have incomes below the poverty line, the poverty rate is 15%.

Note: This statistic only includes people living in households; it does not count those in student housing, military barracks, or nursing homes.

🏘️ Renter vs. Owner Households in Surprise, AZ

In Surprise, AZ, households that rent: 11,823 (20.9%)

📊 What does the renter household percentage reveal about this area?

Household Type	Count	Share
Renter-Occupied	11,823	20.9%
Owner-Occupied	44,683	79.1%

Definition: This is the percentage of households that rent their home rather than own it. It includes only occupied housing units.

Why it matters: Areas with a high share of renter households often have younger populations, higher mobility, and different housing needs compared to mostly owner-occupied areas.

Example: If 65% of homes in an area are renter-occupied, it means 65 out of every 100 households rent their home.

📉 Renters Spending Over 30% of Income on Rent in Surprise, AZ

In Surprise, AZ, cost-burdened renters (households spending over 30% of income on housing): 6,259 (52.9%)

🏚️ What Does It Mean When Renters Spend Over 30% of Their Income on Housing?

Household Group	Households	Share
Cost-burdened renters (over 30%)	6,259	52.9%
Other renter households	5,564	47.1%
Total renter households	11,823	100%

Shares are calculated as a percentage of renter households.

This shows how many renters in this area are considered cost-burdened — meaning they spend more than 30% of their income on housing (rent and basic utilities).

It’s a sign that housing might be unaffordable in the area or that lower-income residents may be struggling with rent.

Data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.

📊 Education Levels in Surprise, AZ

Less than High School: 34,550 people (32.1%)

Includes adults who did not complete high school.

High School Graduate or GED: 27,163 people (25.3%)

Includes adults whose highest education is a high school diploma or GED.

Some College or Associate Degree: 12,949 people (12%)

Includes adults who attended college without completing a bachelor’s degree (some college or associate degree).

Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 32,832 people (30.5%)

Includes adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher (bachelor’s, master’s, professional, or doctoral degree).

👥 Total Adults (25+): 107,494

📊 Unemployment Rate in Surprise, AZ

Estimated Rate: 3.1%

💡 What does Unemployment Rate mean?

Definition: The unemployment rate is the percentage of people in the labor force who do not have a job but are actively looking for one.

Labor Force = Employed + Unemployed (aged 16+ and actively participating in the workforce).

Formula: (Unemployed ÷ Labor Force) × 100

Does NOT include: People who are retired, students not looking for work, homemakers, or otherwise not seeking employment.

Example: If there are 1000 people in the labor force and 80 are unemployed, then the unemployment rate is 8%.

Similar Population

Kansas City, KS154,776 Springfield, MA154,751 Killeen, TX156,144 Lakewood, CO156,309 Sunnyvale, CA153,455 Alexandria, VA156,788 Hollywood, FL152,935 Roseville, CA152,438 Murfreesboro, TN157,547 Paterson, NJ157,660

ℹ️ Have questions about how these statistics are calculated? See our data methodology & FAQs

Source: ACS 5-Year Estimates (U.S. Census Bureau) — unemployment rate from BLS. Some values are derived metrics.