Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Los Angeles, CA
VS
Surprise, AZ
🏆 Surprise leads 16 of 22 categories
Los Angeles
California
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$76,244
Violent Crime Index
192⚠ High
Population
3,881,041 ✓ 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.
Los Angeles, CA
Pros
Cooler summers — July highs near 78°F vs 105°F
More college-educated — 36.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $822,600
Violent crime (728.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Cost of living runs 14% higher than Surprise
Surprise, AZ
Pros
Homes cost $470k less ($352,600 vs $822,600)
85% less violent crime than Los Angeles
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.1 pts lower (4.6%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (109.1 vs 380/100k)
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Los Angeles
Households earn $11,512 more per year on average
Cons
Hot summers — July highs average 105°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Surprise
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 101.2 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Surprise
Median Income
$11,512
$87,756 vs $76,244/yr
Surprise
Violent Crime
85% lower
109.1 vs 728.5 per 100k
Surprise
Median Home Value
$470k less
$352,600 vs $822,600
Surprise
Unemployment
3.1 pp lower
4.6% vs 7.7% unemployment
Surprise
Summer Heat
26.6°F warmer
July avg high 104.6°F vs 78.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Los Angeles, CA | Surprise, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 101.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $822,600⚠ High | $352,600⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,791⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,822⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $76,244 | $87,756 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.7%⚠ High | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 31.3 min⚠ High | 30.5 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 15.1% ✓ Higher | 14.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 143⚠ High | 34 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 192⚠ High | 29 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 71 | 42 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | B- (95) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.7% ✓ Higher | 31.0% |
| High School or Higher | 78.7% | 93.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Los Angeles Unified | Dysart Unified District (4243) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 66.6°F ✓ Warmer | 65.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 78.0°F | 104.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.1" | 9.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 3,881,041 ✓ Larger | 145,591 |
| Median Age | 36.5 | 41.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 36.6% | 78.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.7% | 24.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.4% | 22.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Los Angeles's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Surprise's 101.2 (US average = 100).
Surprise is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Surprise leads 16 of 22 categories. Los Angeles wins 6 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 Los Angeles to Surprise or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($822,600 vs $352,600 median home), income ($76,244 vs $87,756), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Los Angeles, CA and Surprise, AZ are about 343 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.