Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Albuquerque, NM
VS
Surprise, AZ
🏆 Surprise leads 15 of 23 categories
Albuquerque
New Mexico
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$61,503
Violent Crime Index
311⚠ High
Population
562,551 ✓ Larger
Surprise
Arizona
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$87,756 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
29 ✓ Safer
Population
145,591
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Albuquerque, NM
Pros
Rent averages $808/mo less ($1,014 vs $1,822)
Homes cost $107k less ($246,000 vs $352,600)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 37.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Surprise
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.0)
Cons
Median income trails Surprise by $26,253/yr
Violent crime (1181.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4628.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.5% vs 4.6%)
Surprise, AZ
Pros
91% less violent crime than Albuquerque
Households earn $26,253 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (109.1 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (4.6%)
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 52°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,822/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $352,600
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Albuquerque
Longer commutes — 30.5 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Albuquerque
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 93.0 vs 101.2 (100 = US avg)
Albuquerque
Median Home Value
$107k less
$246,000 vs $352,600
Surprise
Median Income
$26,253
$87,756 vs $61,503/yr
Surprise
Violent Crime
91% lower
109.1 vs 1181.8 per 100k
Surprise
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
4.6% vs 5.5% unemployment
Surprise
Summer Heat
9.7°F warmer
July avg high 104.6°F vs 94.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Albuquerque, NM | Surprise, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.0 ✓ Cheaper | 101.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $246,000 ✓ Lower | $352,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,014 ✓ Lower | $1,822⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $61,503 | $87,756 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.1 min ✓ Shorter | 30.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 11.0% | 14.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 275⚠ High | 34 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 311⚠ High | 29 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 220⚠ High | 42 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) ✓ Better | B- (95) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.8% ✓ Higher | 31.0% |
| High School or Higher | 90.7% | 93.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ALBUQUERQUE | Dysart Unified District (4243) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.9°F | 65.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 94.9°F | 104.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.3" | 9.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 7.9" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 562,551 ✓ Larger | 145,591 |
| Median Age | 38.0 | 41.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.7% | 78.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.0% | 24.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.6% | 22.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Albuquerque's cost of living index is 93.0 vs Surprise's 101.2 (US average = 100).
Albuquerque is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Surprise leads 15 of 23 categories. Albuquerque wins 8 and Surprise wins 15. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Albuquerque to Surprise or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($246,000 vs $352,600 median home), income ($61,503 vs $87,756), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Albuquerque, NM and Surprise, AZ are about 345 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.