Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Las Vegas, NV
VS
Surprise, AZ
🏆 Surprise leads 17 of 22 categories
Las Vegas
Nevada
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$66,356
Violent Crime Index
113⚠ High
Population
644,835 ✓ Larger
Surprise
Arizona
17
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.
Las Vegas, NV
Pros
Rent averages $466/mo less ($1,356 vs $1,822)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Smaller class sizes — 18.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Surprise by $21,400/yr
Property crime (2622.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.4% vs 4.6%)
Hot summers — July highs average 104°F
Surprise, AZ
Pros
75% less violent crime than Las Vegas
Households earn $21,400 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.8 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
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 58°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
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 101.6 on the COL index
Surprise
Median Income
$21,400
$87,756 vs $66,356/yr
Surprise
Violent Crime
75% lower
109.1 vs 429.8 per 100k
Surprise
Median Home Value
$13k less
$352,600 vs $365,300
Surprise
Unemployment
2.8 pp lower
4.6% vs 7.4% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Las Vegas, NV | Surprise, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 101.6⚠ High | 101.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $365,300⚠ High | $352,600⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,356⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,822⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $66,356 | $87,756 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.4%⚠ High | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.9 min ✓ Shorter | 30.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 9.1% | 14.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 118⚠ High | 34 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 113⚠ High | 29 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 125⚠ High | 42 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | B- (95) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.3% | 31.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 85.6% | 93.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Clark County | Dysart Unified District (4243) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.0°F | 65.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 103.8°F | 104.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 6.1" ✓ Drier | 9.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 644,835 ✓ Larger | 145,591 |
| Median Age | 38.1 | 41.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.8% | 78.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.9% | 24.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.3% | 22.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Las Vegas's cost of living index is 101.6 vs Surprise's 101.2 (US average = 100).
Surprise is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Surprise leads 17 of 22 categories. Las Vegas wins 5 and Surprise wins 17. 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 Las Vegas to Surprise or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($365,300 vs $352,600 median home), income ($66,356 vs $87,756), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Las Vegas, NV and Surprise, AZ are about 238 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.