Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Conroe, TX
VS
Surprise, AZ
🏆 Surprise leads 14 of 22 categories
Conroe
Texas
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,630
Violent Crime Index
64
Population
92,475
Surprise
Arizona
14
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.
Conroe, TX
Pros
Rent averages $567/mo less ($1,255 vs $1,822)
Homes cost $90k less ($262,500 vs $352,600)
Violent crime is well below the national average (243.5 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (3.4%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 95°F vs 105°F
Smaller class sizes — 15.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Surprise by $16,126/yr
Surprise, AZ
Pros
55% less violent crime than Conroe
Households earn $16,126 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (109.1 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,822/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $352,600
Higher unemployment (4.6% vs 3.4%)
Hot summers — July highs average 105°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Conroe
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 100.2 vs 101.2 (100 = US avg)
Conroe
Median Home Value
$90k less
$262,500 vs $352,600
Conroe
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
3.4% vs 4.6% unemployment
Surprise
Median Income
$16,126
$87,756 vs $71,630/yr
Surprise
Violent Crime
55% lower
109.1 vs 243.5 per 100k
Surprise
Summer Heat
9.7°F warmer
July avg high 104.6°F vs 94.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Conroe, TX | Surprise, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 101.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $262,500 ✓ Lower | $352,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,255 ✓ Lower | $1,822⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,630 | $87,756 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.4% ✓ Lower | 4.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.6 min ✓ Shorter | 30.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 8.9% | 14.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 70 | 34 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 64 | 29 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 78 | 42 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (98) ✓ Better | B- (95) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.2% ✓ Higher | 31.0% |
| High School or Higher | 86.5% | 93.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | CONROE ISD | Dysart Unified District (4243) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 62.7°F | 65.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 94.9°F | 104.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.0" | 9.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 92,475 | 145,591 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.5 | 41.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.1% | 78.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.3% | 24.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.2% | 22.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Conroe's cost of living index is 100.2 vs Surprise's 101.2 (US average = 100).
Conroe is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Surprise leads 14 of 22 categories. Conroe 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 Conroe to Surprise or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($262,500 vs $352,600 median home), income ($71,630 vs $87,756), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Conroe, TX and Surprise, AZ are about 1,019 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.