Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Spring Valley, NV
VS
Surprise, AZ
🏆 Surprise leads 14 of 23 categories
Spring Valley
Nevada
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$69,341
Violent Crime Index
25 ✓ Safer
Population
220,114 ✓ Larger
Surprise
Arizona
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$87,756 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
29
Population
145,591
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Spring Valley, NV
Pros
Violent crime is well below the national average (94.1 vs 380/100k)
Rent averages $299/mo less ($1,523 vs $1,822)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Smaller class sizes — 18.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Surprise by $18,415/yr
Higher unemployment (7.6% vs 4.6%)
Hot summers — July highs average 106°F
Pricier housing — median home is $375,200
Surprise, AZ
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.0 pts lower (4.6%)
Households earn $18,415 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (109.1 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 59°F
Homes cost $23k less ($352,600 vs $375,200)
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,822/mo
Longer commutes — 30.5 min average each way
Hot summers — July highs average 105°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Spring Valley
Violent Crime
14% lower
94.1 vs 109.1 per 100k
Surprise
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 101.2 vs 102.6 (100 = US avg)
Surprise
Median Income
$18,415
$87,756 vs $69,341/yr
Surprise
Median Home Value
$23k less
$352,600 vs $375,200
Surprise
Unemployment
3.0 pp lower
4.6% vs 7.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Spring Valley, NV | Surprise, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.6⚠ High | 101.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $375,200⚠ High | $352,600⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,523⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,822⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $69,341 | $87,756 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.6%⚠ High | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.7 min ✓ Shorter | 30.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 10.4% | 14.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 25 ✓ Safer | 34 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 25 ✓ Safer | 29 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 25 ✓ Safer | 42 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (91) | B- (95) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 30.0% | 31.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.8% | 93.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Clark County | Dysart Unified District (4243) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 59.0°F | 65.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 105.8°F ✓ Warmer | 104.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 6.6" ✓ Drier | 9.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 220,114 ✓ Larger | 145,591 |
| Median Age | 38.5 | 41.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 49.1% | 78.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.2% | 24.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.0% | 22.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Spring Valley's cost of living index is 102.6 vs Surprise's 101.2 (US average = 100).
Surprise is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Surprise leads 14 of 23 categories. Spring Valley wins 9 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 Spring Valley to Surprise or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($375,200 vs $352,600 median home), income ($69,341 vs $87,756), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Spring Valley, NV and Surprise, AZ are about 231 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.