Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Norwalk, CT
VS
Surprise, AZ
🏆 Surprise leads 17 of 23 categories
Norwalk
Connecticut
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$97,879 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
22 ✓ Safer
Population
91,050
Surprise
Arizona
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$87,756
Violent Crime Index
29
Population
145,591 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Norwalk, CT
Pros
Violent crime is well below the national average (85.0 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 42.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 105°F
Households earn $10,123 more per year on average
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Smaller class sizes — 12.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $491,800
Higher unemployment (5.9% vs 4.6%)
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Surprise
Surprise, AZ
Pros
Homes cost $139k less ($352,600 vs $491,800)
Violent crime is well below the national average (109.1 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.3 pts lower (4.6%)
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 38°F
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Norwalk
Cons
Median income trails Norwalk by $10,123/yr
Longer commutes — 30.5 min average each way
Hot summers — July highs average 105°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Norwalk
Median Income
$10,123
$97,879 vs $87,756/yr
Norwalk
Violent Crime
22% lower
85.0 vs 109.1 per 100k
Surprise
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 101.2 vs 106.5 (100 = US avg)
Surprise
Median Home Value
$139k less
$352,600 vs $491,800
Surprise
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
4.6% vs 5.9% unemployment
Surprise
Summer Heat
19.8°F warmer
July avg high 104.6°F vs 84.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Norwalk, CT | Surprise, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 106.5⚠ High | 101.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $491,800⚠ High | $352,600⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,861⚠ High | $1,822⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $97,879 ✓ Higher | $87,756 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.3 min ✓ Shorter | 30.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 11.4% | 14.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 42 | 34 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 22 ✓ Safer | 29 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 | 42 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (113) ✓ Better | B- (95) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.6% ✓ Higher | 31.0% |
| High School or Higher | 88.6% | 93.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Norwalk School District | Dysart Unified District (4243) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.0°F | 65.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.8°F | 104.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.4" | 9.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 34.0" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 91,050 | 145,591 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.0 | 41.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.8% | 78.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.4% | 24.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.8% | 22.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Norwalk's cost of living index is 106.5 vs Surprise's 101.2 (US average = 100).
Surprise is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Surprise leads 17 of 23 categories. Norwalk wins 6 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 Norwalk to Surprise or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($491,800 vs $352,600 median home), income ($97,879 vs $87,756), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Norwalk, CT and Surprise, AZ are about 2,184 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.