Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Green Bay, WI
VS
Surprise, AZ
🏆 Surprise leads 16 of 23 categories
Green Bay
Wisconsin
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,174
Violent Crime Index
130⚠ High
Population
106,846
Surprise
Arizona
16
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.
Green Bay, WI
Pros
Rent averages $958/mo less ($864 vs $1,822)
Homes cost $180k less ($172,700 vs $352,600)
Commutes run 13 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 80°F vs 105°F
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (4.1%)
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Surprise
Cons
Median income trails Surprise by $28,582/yr
Violent crime (495.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Snowy winters — about 56" of snow per year
Surprise, AZ
Pros
78% less violent crime than Green Bay
Households earn $28,582 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (109.1 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 25°F
More college-educated — 31.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,822/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $352,600
Cost of living runs 9% higher than Green Bay
Longer commutes — 30.5 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Green Bay
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 92.1 vs 101.2 (100 = US avg)
Green Bay
Median Home Value
$180k less
$172,700 vs $352,600
Green Bay
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
4.1% vs 4.6% unemployment
Surprise
Median Income
$28,582
$87,756 vs $59,174/yr
Surprise
Violent Crime
78% lower
109.1 vs 495.1 per 100k
Surprise
Summer Heat
24.8°F warmer
July avg high 104.6°F vs 79.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Green Bay, WI | Surprise, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.1 ✓ Cheaper | 101.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $172,700 ✓ Lower | $352,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $864 ✓ Lower | $1,822⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,174 | $87,756 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 4.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.0 min ✓ Shorter | 30.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.6% | 14.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 103⚠ High | 34 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 130⚠ High | 29 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 62 | 42 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) ✓ Better | B- (95) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 25.1% | 31.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.5% | 93.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Green Bay Area Public School District | Dysart Unified District (4243) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 24.5°F | 65.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 79.8°F | 104.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 32.2" | 9.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 55.6" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 106,846 | 145,591 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.6 | 41.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.2% | 78.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.0% | 24.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.9% | 22.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Green Bay's cost of living index is 92.1 vs Surprise's 101.2 (US average = 100).
Green Bay is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Surprise leads 16 of 23 categories. Green Bay 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 Green Bay to Surprise or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($172,700 vs $352,600 median home), income ($59,174 vs $87,756), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Green Bay, WI and Surprise, AZ are about 1,502 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.