Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chino, CA
VS
Surprise, AZ
🏆 Surprise leads 20 of 22 categories
Chino
California
2
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$99,385 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
79
Population
91,008
Surprise
Arizona
20
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.
Chino, CA
Pros
Households earn $11,629 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 94°F vs 105°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $599,200
Higher unemployment (5.5% vs 4.6%)
Higher rents — median is $2,001/mo
Longer commutes — 34.2 min average each way
Surprise, AZ
Pros
Homes cost $247k less ($352,600 vs $599,200)
64% less violent crime than Chino
Violent crime is well below the national average (109.1 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (4.6%)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Rent averages $179/mo less ($1,822 vs $2,001)
Cons
Median income trails Chino by $11,629/yr
Hot summers — July highs average 105°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Chino
Median Income
$11,629
$99,385 vs $87,756/yr
Surprise
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 101.2 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Surprise
Violent Crime
64% lower
109.1 vs 299.5 per 100k
Surprise
Median Home Value
$247k less
$352,600 vs $599,200
Surprise
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
4.6% vs 5.5% unemployment
Surprise
Summer Heat
10.9°F warmer
July avg high 104.6°F vs 93.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chino, CA | Surprise, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.9⚠ High | 101.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $599,200⚠ High | $352,600⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,001⚠ High | $1,822⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $99,385 ✓ Higher | $87,756 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 34.2 min⚠ High | 30.5 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.1% | 14.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 89 | 34 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 79 | 29 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 105⚠ High | 42 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | B- (95) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.4:1 | 20.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.1% | 31.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 83.4% | 93.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Chino Valley Unified | Dysart Unified District (4243) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 69.5°F ✓ Warmer | 65.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 93.7°F | 104.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.0" | 9.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 91,008 | 145,591 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.9 | 41.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 63.7% | 78.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.2% | 24.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.1% | 22.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chino's cost of living index is 107.9 vs Surprise's 101.2 (US average = 100).
Surprise is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Surprise leads 20 of 22 categories. Chino wins 2 and Surprise wins 20. 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 Chino to Surprise or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($599,200 vs $352,600 median home), income ($99,385 vs $87,756), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chino, CA and Surprise, AZ are about 299 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.