Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Alexandria, VA
VS
Surprise, AZ
🏆 Surprise leads 14 of 22 categories
Alexandria
Virginia
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$113,179 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
58
Population
157,594 ✓ Larger
Surprise
Arizona
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$87,756
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.
Alexandria, VA
Pros
More college-educated — 66.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $25,423 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (219.1 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (3.2%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 90°F vs 105°F
Smaller class sizes — 15.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $655,700
Property crime (2640.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher rents — median is $1,983/mo
Cost of living runs 7% higher than Surprise
Surprise, AZ
Pros
Homes cost $303k less ($352,600 vs $655,700)
50% less violent crime than Alexandria
Violent crime is well below the national average (109.1 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 45°F
Rent averages $161/mo less ($1,822 vs $1,983)
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Alexandria
Cons
Median income trails Alexandria by $25,423/yr
Higher unemployment (4.6% vs 3.2%)
Hot summers — July highs average 105°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Alexandria
Median Income
$25,423
$113,179 vs $87,756/yr
Alexandria
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
3.2% vs 4.6% unemployment
Surprise
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 101.2 vs 108.6 (100 = US avg)
Surprise
Violent Crime
50% lower
109.1 vs 219.1 per 100k
Surprise
Median Home Value
$303k less
$352,600 vs $655,700
Surprise
Summer Heat
15.0°F warmer
July avg high 104.6°F vs 89.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Alexandria, VA | Surprise, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.6⚠ High | 101.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $655,700⚠ High | $352,600⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,983⚠ High | $1,822⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $113,179 ✓ Higher | $87,756 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.2% ✓ Lower | 4.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.1 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 30.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 22.1% ✓ Higher | 14.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 85 | 34 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 58 | 29 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High | 42 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | B- (95) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 66.0% ✓ Higher | 31.0% |
| High School or Higher | 93.7% | 93.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Alexandria City Public Schools | Dysart Unified District (4243) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.8°F | 65.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.6°F | 104.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.8" | 9.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 13.7" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 157,594 ✓ Larger | 145,591 |
| Median Age | 37.4 | 41.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.7% | 78.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.1% | 24.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.3% | 22.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Alexandria's cost of living index is 108.6 vs Surprise's 101.2 (US average = 100).
Surprise is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Surprise leads 14 of 22 categories. Alexandria wins 8 and Surprise wins 14. 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 Alexandria to Surprise or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($655,700 vs $352,600 median home), income ($113,179 vs $87,756), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Alexandria, VA and Surprise, AZ are about 1,990 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.