Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Shreveport, LA
VS
Surprise, AZ
🏆 Surprise leads 17 of 23 categories
Shreveport
Louisiana
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
87.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$45,967
Violent Crime Index
323⚠ High
Population
186,183 ✓ Larger
Surprise
Arizona
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.2⚠ High
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.
Shreveport, LA
Pros
Homes cost $184k less ($168,900 vs $352,600)
Rent averages $877/mo less ($945 vs $1,822)
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Surprise
Living costs sit below the national average (index 87.1)
Cooler summers — July highs near 94°F vs 105°F
Cons
Median income trails Surprise by $41,789/yr
Violent crime (1228.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3990.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (9.2% vs 4.6%)
Surprise, AZ
Pros
Households earn $41,789 more per year on average
91% less violent crime than Shreveport
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.6 pts lower (4.6%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (109.1 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 31.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 58°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $352,600
Higher rents — median is $1,822/mo
Cost of living runs 14% higher than Shreveport
Longer commutes — 30.5 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Shreveport
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 87.1 vs 101.2 (100 = US avg)
Shreveport
Median Home Value
$184k less
$168,900 vs $352,600
Surprise
Median Income
$41,789
$87,756 vs $45,967/yr
Surprise
Violent Crime
91% lower
109.1 vs 1228.5 per 100k
Surprise
Unemployment
4.6 pp lower
4.6% vs 9.2% unemployment
Surprise
Summer Heat
10.3°F warmer
July avg high 104.6°F vs 94.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Shreveport, LA | Surprise, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 87.1 ✓ Cheaper | 101.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $168,900 ✓ Lower | $352,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $945 ✓ Lower | $1,822⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $45,967 | $87,756 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.2%⚠ High | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.2 min ✓ Shorter | 30.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 4.7% | 14.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 270⚠ High | 34 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 323⚠ High | 29 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 190⚠ High | 42 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) | B- (95) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.6% | 31.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.5% | 93.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Caddo Parish | Dysart Unified District (4243) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.4°F | 65.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 94.3°F | 104.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.4" | 9.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.9" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 186,183 ✓ Larger | 145,591 |
| Median Age | 37.1 | 41.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.8% | 78.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.8% | 24.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.1% | 22.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Shreveport's cost of living index is 87.1 vs Surprise's 101.2 (US average = 100).
Shreveport is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Surprise leads 17 of 23 categories. Shreveport 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 Shreveport to Surprise or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($168,900 vs $352,600 median home), income ($45,967 vs $87,756), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Shreveport, LA and Surprise, AZ are about 1,082 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.