Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Palmdale, CA
VS
Surprise, AZ
🏆 Surprise leads 18 of 22 categories
Palmdale
California
4
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$78,414
Violent Crime Index
145⚠ High
Population
166,895 ✓ Larger
Surprise
Arizona
18
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.
Palmdale, CA
Pros
Rent averages $197/mo less ($1,625 vs $1,822)
Cooler summers — July highs near 98°F vs 105°F
Cons
Violent crime (551.0/100k) 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
Pricier housing — median home is $397,500
Surprise, AZ
Pros
80% less violent crime than Palmdale
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.8 pts lower (4.6%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (109.1 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Palmdale
More college-educated — 31.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,822/mo
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
$9,342
$87,756 vs $78,414/yr
Surprise
Violent Crime
80% lower
109.1 vs 551.0 per 100k
Surprise
Median Home Value
$45k less
$352,600 vs $397,500
Surprise
Unemployment
2.8 pp lower
4.6% vs 7.4% unemployment
Surprise
Summer Heat
7.0°F warmer
July avg high 104.6°F vs 97.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Palmdale, 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 | $397,500⚠ High | $352,600⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,625⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,822⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,414 | $87,756 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.4%⚠ High | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 41.3 min⚠ High | 30.5 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.9% | 14.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 123⚠ High | 34 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 145⚠ High | 29 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 89 | 42 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (59) | B- (95) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.2:1 | 20.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 16.7% | 31.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 76.6% | 93.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Palmdale Elementary | Dysart Unified District (4243) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 59.5°F | 65.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 97.6°F | 104.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 7.3" ✓ Drier | 9.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 166,895 ✓ Larger | 145,591 |
| Median Age | 33.0 | 41.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 66.5% | 78.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 29.0% ✓ More | 24.5% |
| Over 65 | 10.4% | 22.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Palmdale'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 18 of 22 categories. Palmdale wins 4 and Surprise wins 18. 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 Palmdale to Surprise or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($397,500 vs $352,600 median home), income ($78,414 vs $87,756), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Palmdale, CA and Surprise, AZ are about 329 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.