Head-to-Head · City Comparison
High Point, NC
VS
Surprise, AZ
🏆 Surprise leads 16 of 23 categories
High Point
North Carolina
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,582
Violent Crime Index
120⚠ High
Population
114,120
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.
High Point, NC
Pros
Homes cost $156k less ($196,500 vs $352,600)
Rent averages $792/mo less ($1,030 vs $1,822)
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 89°F vs 105°F
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Surprise
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.7)
Cons
Median income trails Surprise by $29,174/yr
Violent crime (454.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2456.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.2% vs 4.6%)
Surprise, AZ
Pros
76% less violent crime than High Point
Households earn $29,174 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (109.1 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (4.6%)
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 52°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $352,600
Higher rents — median is $1,822/mo
Cost of living runs 9% higher than High Point
Longer commutes — 30.5 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
High Point
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 92.7 vs 101.2 (100 = US avg)
High Point
Median Home Value
$156k less
$196,500 vs $352,600
Surprise
Median Income
$29,174
$87,756 vs $58,582/yr
Surprise
Violent Crime
76% lower
109.1 vs 454.8 per 100k
Surprise
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
4.6% vs 6.2% unemployment
Surprise
Summer Heat
15.2°F warmer
July avg high 104.6°F vs 89.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | High Point, NC | Surprise, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.7 ✓ Cheaper | 101.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $196,500 ✓ Lower | $352,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,030 ✓ Lower | $1,822⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,582 | $87,756 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.2%⚠ High | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.7 min ✓ Shorter | 30.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 8.0% | 14.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 119⚠ High | 34 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 120⚠ High | 29 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 117⚠ High | 42 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (103) ✓ Better | B- (95) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.4% ✓ Higher | 31.0% |
| High School or Higher | 86.4% | 93.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Guilford County Schools | Dysart Unified District (4243) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.7°F | 65.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.4°F | 104.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 48.3" | 9.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.9" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,120 | 145,591 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.7 | 41.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 58.1% | 78.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.5% | 24.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.7% | 22.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
High Point's cost of living index is 92.7 vs Surprise's 101.2 (US average = 100).
High Point is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Surprise leads 16 of 23 categories. High Point 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 High Point to Surprise or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($196,500 vs $352,600 median home), income ($58,582 vs $87,756), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
High Point, NC and Surprise, AZ are about 1,839 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.