Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Hemet, CA
VS
Surprise, AZ
🏆 Surprise leads 19 of 22 categories
Hemet
California
3
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$49,901
Violent Crime Index
112⚠ High
Population
89,651
Surprise
Arizona
19
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
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.
Hemet, CA
Pros
Rent averages $465/mo less ($1,357 vs $1,822)
Homes cost $75k less ($277,200 vs $352,600)
Cooler summers — July highs near 95°F vs 105°F
Cons
Median income trails Surprise by $37,855/yr
Higher unemployment (9.5% vs 4.6%)
Longer commutes — 36.8 min average each way
Cost of living runs 7% higher than Surprise
Surprise, AZ
Pros
Households earn $37,855 more per year on average
74% less violent crime than Hemet
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.9 pts lower (4.6%)
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 6 min shorter each way
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,822/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $352,600
Hot summers — July highs average 105°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Hemet
Median Home Value
$75k less
$277,200 vs $352,600
Surprise
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 101.2 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Surprise
Median Income
$37,855
$87,756 vs $49,901/yr
Surprise
Violent Crime
74% lower
109.1 vs 424.8 per 100k
Surprise
Unemployment
4.9 pp lower
4.6% vs 9.5% unemployment
Surprise
Summer Heat
9.5°F warmer
July avg high 104.6°F vs 95.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Hemet, CA | Surprise, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.9⚠ High | 101.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $277,200 ✓ Lower | $352,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,357⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,822⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $49,901 | $87,756 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.5%⚠ High | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 36.8 min⚠ High | 30.5 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.6% | 14.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 98 | 34 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 112⚠ High | 29 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 78 | 42 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (78) | B- (95) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.9:1 | 20.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 13.9% | 31.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 79.9% | 93.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Hemet Unified | Dysart Unified District (4243) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.8°F ✓ Warmer | 65.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.1°F | 104.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 12.2" | 9.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 89,651 | 145,591 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.0 | 41.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 61.1% | 78.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.1% | 24.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 22.4% | 22.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Hemet's cost of living index is 107.9 vs Surprise's 101.2 (US average = 100).
Surprise is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Surprise leads 19 of 22 categories. Hemet wins 3 and Surprise wins 19. 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 Hemet to Surprise or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($277,200 vs $352,600 median home), income ($49,901 vs $87,756), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Hemet, CA and Surprise, AZ are about 261 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.