Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Deltona, FL
VS
Surprise, AZ
🏆 Surprise leads 13 of 19 categories
Deltona
Florida
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$69,074
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
94,373
Surprise
Arizona
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$87,756 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
29
Population
145,591 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Deltona, FL
Pros
Homes cost $126k less ($226,800 vs $352,600)
Rent averages $405/mo less ($1,417 vs $1,822)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (4.0%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 92°F vs 105°F
Smaller class sizes — 18.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Surprise by $18,682/yr
Longer commutes — 34.4 min average each way
Surprise, AZ
Pros
Households earn $18,682 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (109.1 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 31.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $352,600
Higher rents — median is $1,822/mo
Hot summers — July highs average 105°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Deltona
Median Home Value
$126k less
$226,800 vs $352,600
Deltona
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
4.0% vs 4.6% unemployment
Surprise
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 101.2 vs 102.4 (100 = US avg)
Surprise
Median Income
$18,682
$87,756 vs $69,074/yr
Surprise
Summer Heat
12.8°F warmer
July avg high 104.6°F vs 91.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Deltona, FL | Surprise, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.4⚠ High | 101.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $226,800 ✓ Lower | $352,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,417⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,822⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $69,074 | $87,756 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 4.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 34.4 min⚠ High | 30.5 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.9% | 14.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | — | 34 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 29 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 42 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (85) | B- (95) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 18.6% | 31.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.5% | 93.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | VOLUSIA | Dysart Unified District (4243) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 70.1°F ✓ Warmer | 65.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.8°F | 104.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.8" | 9.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 94,373 | 145,591 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.1 | 41.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 80.3% ✓ Higher | 78.4% |
| Under 18 | 22.9% | 24.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.5% | 22.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Deltona's cost of living index is 102.4 vs Surprise's 101.2 (US average = 100).
Surprise is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 19 decided categories above, Surprise leads 13 of 19 categories. Deltona wins 6 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 Deltona to Surprise or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($226,800 vs $352,600 median home), income ($69,074 vs $87,756), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Deltona, FL and Surprise, AZ are about 1,867 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.