Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Broken Arrow, OK
VS
Surprise, AZ
🏆 Surprise leads 13 of 23 categories
Broken Arrow
Oklahoma
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$82,547
Violent Crime Index
59
Population
114,237
Surprise
Arizona
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$87,756 ✓ Higher
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.
Broken Arrow, OK
Pros
Homes cost $142k less ($210,800 vs $352,600)
Rent averages $639/mo less ($1,183 vs $1,822)
Violent crime is well below the national average (223.1 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Surprise
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.5)
Cons
Median income trails Surprise by $5,209/yr
Surprise, AZ
Pros
51% less violent crime than Broken Arrow
Violent crime is well below the national average (109.1 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 49°F
Households earn $5,209 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $352,600
Higher rents — median is $1,822/mo
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Broken Arrow
Longer commutes — 30.5 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Broken Arrow
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 89.5 vs 101.2 (100 = US avg)
Broken Arrow
Median Home Value
$142k less
$210,800 vs $352,600
Surprise
Median Income
$5,209
$87,756 vs $82,547/yr
Surprise
Violent Crime
51% lower
109.1 vs 223.1 per 100k
Surprise
Summer Heat
11.1°F warmer
July avg high 104.6°F vs 93.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Broken Arrow, OK | Surprise, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.5 ✓ Cheaper | 101.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $210,800 ✓ Lower | $352,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,183 ✓ Lower | $1,822⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $82,547 | $87,756 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 4.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.6 min ✓ Shorter | 30.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 9.2% | 14.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 58 | 34 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 59 | 29 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 57 | 42 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (97) ✓ Better | B- (95) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.4% ✓ Higher | 31.0% |
| High School or Higher | 94.2% ✓ Higher | 93.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | BROKEN ARROW | Dysart Unified District (4243) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.9°F | 65.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 93.5°F | 104.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 42.7" | 9.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 8.7" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,237 | 145,591 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.8 | 41.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 72.5% | 78.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 25.3% ✓ More | 24.5% |
| Over 65 | 15.1% | 22.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Broken Arrow's cost of living index is 89.5 vs Surprise's 101.2 (US average = 100).
Broken Arrow is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Surprise leads 13 of 23 categories. Broken Arrow wins 10 and Surprise wins 13. 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 Broken Arrow to Surprise or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($210,800 vs $352,600 median home), income ($82,547 vs $87,756), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Broken Arrow, OK and Surprise, AZ are about 958 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.