Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Midland, TX
VS
Surprise, AZ
🏆 Surprise leads 15 of 23 categories
Midland
Texas
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$90,448 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
96
Population
132,490
Surprise
Arizona
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$87,756
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.
Midland, TX
Pros
Rent averages $422/mo less ($1,400 vs $1,822)
Homes cost $72k less ($280,700 vs $352,600)
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (3.2%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.8)
Cooler summers — July highs near 95°F vs 105°F
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Surprise, AZ
Pros
70% less violent crime than Midland
Violent crime is well below the national average (109.1 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,822/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $352,600
Higher unemployment (4.6% vs 3.2%)
Longer commutes — 30.5 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Midland
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 94.8 vs 101.2 (100 = US avg)
Midland
Median Income
$2,692
$90,448 vs $87,756/yr
Midland
Median Home Value
$72k less
$280,700 vs $352,600
Midland
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
3.2% vs 4.6% unemployment
Surprise
Violent Crime
70% lower
109.1 vs 364.9 per 100k
Surprise
Summer Heat
9.3°F warmer
July avg high 104.6°F vs 95.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Midland, TX | Surprise, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.8 ✓ Cheaper | 101.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $280,700 ✓ Lower | $352,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,400⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,822⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $90,448 ✓ Higher | $87,756 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.2% ✓ Lower | 4.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.9 min ✓ Shorter | 30.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 5.6% | 14.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 88 | 34 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 | 29 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 77 | 42 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (83) | B- (95) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.8:1 | 20.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.8% ✓ Higher | 31.0% |
| High School or Higher | 84.9% | 93.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | MIDLAND ISD | Dysart Unified District (4243) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 60.3°F | 65.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 95.3°F | 104.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 16.7" | 9.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.9" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 132,490 | 145,591 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 31.4 | 41.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 63.9% | 78.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 28.5% ✓ More | 24.5% |
| Over 65 | 10.2% | 22.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Midland's cost of living index is 94.8 vs Surprise's 101.2 (US average = 100).
Midland is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Surprise leads 15 of 23 categories. Midland wins 8 and Surprise wins 15. 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 Midland to Surprise or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($280,700 vs $352,600 median home), income ($90,448 vs $87,756), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Midland, TX and Surprise, AZ are about 611 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.