Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Denver, CO
VS
Surprise, AZ
🏆 Surprise leads 16 of 23 categories
Denver
Colorado
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$85,853
Violent Crime Index
261⚠ High
Population
710,800 ✓ Larger
Surprise
Arizona
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$87,756 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
29 ✓ Safer
Population
145,591
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Denver, CO
Pros
More college-educated — 54.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 90°F vs 105°F
Rent averages $157/mo less ($1,665 vs $1,822)
Smaller class sizes — 15.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $540,400
Violent crime (993.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4761.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 49" of snow per year
Surprise, AZ
Pros
89% less violent crime than Denver
Homes cost $188k less ($352,600 vs $540,400)
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 Denver
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,822/mo
Longer commutes — 30.5 min average each way
Hot summers — July highs average 105°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Surprise
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 101.2 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Surprise
Median Income
$1,903
$87,756 vs $85,853/yr
Surprise
Violent Crime
89% lower
109.1 vs 993.0 per 100k
Surprise
Median Home Value
$188k less
$352,600 vs $540,400
Surprise
Summer Heat
14.4°F warmer
July avg high 104.6°F vs 90.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Denver, 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 | $540,400⚠ High | $352,600⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,665⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,822⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $85,853 | $87,756 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.3 min ✓ Shorter | 30.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 20.9% ✓ Higher | 14.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 247⚠ High | 34 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 261⚠ High | 29 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 227⚠ High | 42 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | B- (95) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 54.2% ✓ Higher | 31.0% |
| High School or Higher | 90.5% | 93.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | School District No. 1 in the county of Denver and State of C | Dysart Unified District (4243) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 46.5°F | 65.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.2°F | 104.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 15.4" | 9.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.0" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 710,800 ✓ Larger | 145,591 |
| Median Age | 34.9 | 41.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 49.4% | 78.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.7% | 24.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.0% | 22.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Denver'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 16 of 23 categories. Denver wins 7 and Surprise wins 16. 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 Denver to Surprise or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($540,400 vs $352,600 median home), income ($85,853 vs $87,756), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Denver, CO and Surprise, AZ are about 594 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.