Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Roseville, CA
VS
Surprise, AZ
🏆 Surprise leads 14 of 22 categories
Roseville
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$112,265 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
58
Population
148,879 ✓ Larger
Surprise
Arizona
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$87,756
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.
Roseville, CA
Pros
Households earn $24,509 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (219.2 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 44.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 94°F vs 105°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $596,700
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Surprise
Higher rents — median is $1,940/mo
Surprise, AZ
Pros
Homes cost $244k less ($352,600 vs $596,700)
50% less violent crime than Roseville
Violent crime is well below the national average (109.1 vs 380/100k)
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Roseville
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 55°F
Rent averages $118/mo less ($1,822 vs $1,940)
Cons
Median income trails Roseville by $24,509/yr
Hot summers — July highs average 105°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Roseville
Median Income
$24,509
$112,265 vs $87,756/yr
Surprise
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 101.2 vs 108.9 (100 = US avg)
Surprise
Violent Crime
50% lower
109.1 vs 219.2 per 100k
Surprise
Median Home Value
$244k less
$352,600 vs $596,700
Surprise
Summer Heat
11.0°F warmer
July avg high 104.6°F vs 93.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Roseville, CA | Surprise, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.9⚠ High | 101.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $596,700⚠ High | $352,600⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,940⚠ High | $1,822⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $112,265 ✓ Higher | $87,756 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 4.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.7 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 30.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 19.1% ✓ Higher | 14.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 62 | 34 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 58 | 29 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 68 | 42 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (99) ✓ Better | B- (95) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.6:1 | 20.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 44.4% ✓ Higher | 31.0% |
| High School or Higher | 95.5% ✓ Higher | 93.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Roseville City Elementary | Dysart Unified District (4243) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.0°F | 65.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 93.6°F | 104.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 20.2" | 9.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 148,879 ✓ Larger | 145,591 |
| Median Age | 39.8 | 41.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 68.1% | 78.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.7% | 24.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.1% | 22.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Roseville's cost of living index is 108.9 vs Surprise's 101.2 (US average = 100).
Surprise is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Surprise leads 14 of 22 categories. Roseville wins 8 and Surprise wins 14. 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 Roseville to Surprise or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($596,700 vs $352,600 median home), income ($112,265 vs $87,756), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Roseville, CA and Surprise, AZ are about 607 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.