Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Norman, OK
VS
Surprise, AZ
🏆 Surprise leads 15 of 23 categories
Norman
Oklahoma
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$62,849
Violent Crime Index
68
Population
127,701
Surprise
Arizona
15
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.
Norman, OK
Pros
Rent averages $818/mo less ($1,004 vs $1,822)
Homes cost $128k less ($224,900 vs $352,600)
Violent crime is well below the national average (260.2 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 45.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Surprise
Cons
Median income trails Surprise by $24,907/yr
Higher unemployment (5.8% vs 4.6%)
Surprise, AZ
Pros
58% less violent crime than Norman
Households earn $24,907 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (109.1 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (4.6%)
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 50°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,822/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $352,600
Cost of living runs 10% higher than Norman
Longer commutes — 30.5 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Norman
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 91.0 vs 101.2 (100 = US avg)
Norman
Median Home Value
$128k less
$224,900 vs $352,600
Surprise
Median Income
$24,907
$87,756 vs $62,849/yr
Surprise
Violent Crime
58% lower
109.1 vs 260.2 per 100k
Surprise
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
4.6% vs 5.8% unemployment
Surprise
Summer Heat
12.1°F warmer
July avg high 104.6°F vs 92.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Norman, OK | Surprise, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.0 ✓ Cheaper | 101.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $224,900 ✓ Lower | $352,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,004 ✓ Lower | $1,822⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $62,849 | $87,756 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.6 min ✓ Shorter | 30.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 9.3% | 14.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 84 | 34 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 68 | 29 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High | 42 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) ✓ Better | B- (95) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 45.6% ✓ Higher | 31.0% |
| High School or Higher | 94.0% ✓ Higher | 93.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | NORMAN | Dysart Unified District (4243) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 49.9°F | 65.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.5°F | 104.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 37.6" | 9.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 4.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 127,701 | 145,591 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 31.0 | 41.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.4% | 78.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.1% | 24.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.4% | 22.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Norman's cost of living index is 91.0 vs Surprise's 101.2 (US average = 100).
Norman is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Surprise leads 15 of 23 categories. Norman 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 Norman to Surprise or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($224,900 vs $352,600 median home), income ($62,849 vs $87,756), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Norman, OK and Surprise, AZ are about 867 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.