Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Eugene, OR
VS
Surprise, AZ
🏆 Surprise leads 16 of 23 categories
Eugene
Oregon
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$61,481
Violent Crime Index
84
Population
176,755 ✓ 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.
Eugene, OR
Pros
Rent averages $553/mo less ($1,269 vs $1,822)
Commutes run 12 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 44.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 105°F
Smaller class sizes — 17.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Surprise by $26,275/yr
Pricier housing — median home is $406,000
Property crime (3255.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.1% vs 4.6%)
Surprise, AZ
Pros
66% less violent crime than Eugene
Households earn $26,275 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.5 pts lower (4.6%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (109.1 vs 380/100k)
Homes cost $53k less ($352,600 vs $406,000)
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 48°F
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
3% cheaper
COL index 101.2 vs 103.8 (100 = US avg)
Surprise
Median Income
$26,275
$87,756 vs $61,481/yr
Surprise
Violent Crime
66% lower
109.1 vs 317.9 per 100k
Surprise
Median Home Value
$53k less
$352,600 vs $406,000
Surprise
Unemployment
2.5 pp lower
4.6% vs 7.1% unemployment
Surprise
Summer Heat
20.6°F warmer
July avg high 104.6°F vs 84.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Eugene, OR | Surprise, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.8⚠ High | 101.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $406,000⚠ High | $352,600⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,269 ✓ Lower | $1,822⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $61,481 | $87,756 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.1%⚠ High | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter | 30.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 13.8% | 14.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 112⚠ High | 34 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 84 | 29 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 155⚠ High | 42 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (103) ✓ Better | B- (95) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 44.2% ✓ Higher | 31.0% |
| High School or Higher | 94.6% ✓ Higher | 93.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Eugene SD 4J | Dysart Unified District (4243) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.1°F | 65.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.0°F | 104.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 45.1" | 9.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.7" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 176,755 ✓ Larger | 145,591 |
| Median Age | 35.2 | 41.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.8% | 78.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.3% | 24.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.2% | 22.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Eugene's cost of living index is 103.8 vs Surprise's 101.2 (US average = 100).
Surprise is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Surprise leads 16 of 23 categories. Eugene 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 Eugene to Surprise or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($406,000 vs $352,600 median home), income ($61,481 vs $87,756), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Eugene, OR and Surprise, AZ are about 917 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.