Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Arvada, CO
VS
Surprise, AZ
🏆 Surprise leads 14 of 23 categories
Arvada
Colorado
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$106,014 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
75
Population
123,066
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 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Arvada, CO
Pros
Households earn $18,258 more per year on average
More college-educated — 47.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (3.8%)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 88°F vs 105°F
Rent averages $116/mo less ($1,706 vs $1,822)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $553,000
Property crime (2478.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 55" of snow per year
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Surprise
Surprise, AZ
Pros
Homes cost $200k less ($352,600 vs $553,000)
62% less violent crime than Arvada
Violent crime is well below the national average (109.1 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 47°F
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Arvada
Cons
Median income trails Arvada by $18,258/yr
Higher unemployment (4.6% vs 3.8%)
Longer commutes — 30.5 min average each way
Hot summers — July highs average 105°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Arvada
Median Income
$18,258
$106,014 vs $87,756/yr
Arvada
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
3.8% vs 4.6% unemployment
Surprise
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 101.2 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Surprise
Violent Crime
62% lower
109.1 vs 285.6 per 100k
Surprise
Median Home Value
$200k less
$352,600 vs $553,000
Surprise
Summer Heat
16.4°F warmer
July avg high 104.6°F vs 88.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Arvada, CO | Surprise, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High | 101.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $553,000⚠ High | $352,600⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,706⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,822⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $106,014 ✓ Higher | $87,756 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 4.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.9 min ✓ Shorter | 30.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 18.7% ✓ Higher | 14.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 92 | 34 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 75 | 29 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 118⚠ High | 42 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) ✓ Better | B- (95) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 47.6% ✓ Higher | 31.0% |
| High School or Higher | 95.4% ✓ Higher | 93.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Jefferson County School District No. R-1 | Dysart Unified District (4243) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.2°F | 65.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.2°F | 104.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.9" | 9.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 54.8" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 123,066 | 145,591 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.2 | 41.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 74.2% | 78.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.1% | 24.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.5% | 22.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Arvada's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Surprise's 101.2 (US average = 100).
Surprise is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Surprise leads 14 of 23 categories. Arvada wins 9 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 Arvada to Surprise or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($553,000 vs $352,600 median home), income ($106,014 vs $87,756), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Arvada, CO and Surprise, AZ are about 587 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.