Head-to-Head · City Comparison
South Gate, CA
VS
Surprise, AZ
🏆 Surprise leads 18 of 22 categories
South Gate
California
4
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$67,188
Violent Crime Index
138⚠ High
Population
92,381
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 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
South Gate, CA
Pros
Rent averages $422/mo less ($1,400 vs $1,822)
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 105°F
Smaller class sizes — 17.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $578,900
Violent crime (525.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Surprise by $20,568/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Surprise, AZ
Pros
79% less violent crime than South Gate
Homes cost $226k less ($352,600 vs $578,900)
Households earn $20,568 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.3 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
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
$20,568
$87,756 vs $67,188/yr
Surprise
Violent Crime
79% lower
109.1 vs 525.6 per 100k
Surprise
Median Home Value
$226k less
$352,600 vs $578,900
Surprise
Unemployment
3.3 pp lower
4.6% vs 7.9% unemployment
Surprise
Summer Heat
22.6°F warmer
July avg high 104.6°F vs 82.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | South Gate, 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 | $578,900⚠ High | $352,600⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,400⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,822⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $67,188 | $87,756 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.9%⚠ High | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 32.3 min⚠ High | 30.5 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.2% | 14.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 152⚠ High | 34 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 138⚠ High | 29 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 171⚠ High | 42 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (72) | B- (95) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 11.5% | 31.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 58.8% | 93.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Westbrook Academy District | Dysart Unified District (4243) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 68.0°F ✓ Warmer | 65.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 82.0°F | 104.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.2" | 9.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 92,381 | 145,591 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.7 | 41.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.8% | 78.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.8% ✓ More | 24.5% |
| Over 65 | 11.3% | 22.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
South Gate'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. South Gate 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 South Gate to Surprise or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($578,900 vs $352,600 median home), income ($67,188 vs $87,756), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
South Gate, CA and Surprise, AZ are about 330 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.