Head-to-Head · City Comparison
St. George, UT
VS
Surprise, AZ
🏆 Surprise leads 14 of 22 categories
St. George
Utah
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$69,333
Violent Crime Index
55
Population
96,174
Surprise
Arizona
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.2⚠ High
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.
St. George, UT
Pros
Rent averages $487/mo less ($1,335 vs $1,822)
Commutes run 14 min shorter each way
Violent crime is well below the national average (210.0 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.3 pts lower (3.3%)
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Surprise
Cons
Median income trails Surprise by $18,423/yr
Pricier housing — median home is $415,200
Hot summers — July highs average 102°F
Surprise, AZ
Pros
48% less violent crime than St. George
Households earn $18,423 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (109.1 vs 380/100k)
Homes cost $63k less ($352,600 vs $415,200)
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 54°F
Smaller class sizes — 20.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,822/mo
Higher unemployment (4.6% vs 3.3%)
Longer commutes — 30.5 min average each way
Hot summers — July highs average 105°F
Key Differences at a Glance
St. George
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 96.1 vs 101.2 (100 = US avg)
St. George
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
3.3% vs 4.6% unemployment
Surprise
Median Income
$18,423
$87,756 vs $69,333/yr
Surprise
Violent Crime
48% lower
109.1 vs 210.0 per 100k
Surprise
Median Home Value
$63k less
$352,600 vs $415,200
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | St. George, UT | Surprise, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 96.1 ✓ Cheaper | 101.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $415,200⚠ High | $352,600⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,335⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,822⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $69,333 | $87,756 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.3% ✓ Lower | 4.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 16.3 min ✓ Shorter | 30.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 13.8% | 14.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 52 | 34 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 55 | 29 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 48 | 42 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | B- (95) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.1:1 | 20.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.6% ✓ Higher | 31.0% |
| High School or Higher | 94.3% ✓ Higher | 93.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Washington District | Dysart Unified District (4243) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.0°F | 65.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 101.9°F | 104.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 9.3" ✓ Drier | 9.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 96,174 | 145,591 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.5 | 41.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 67.7% | 78.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 25.4% ✓ More | 24.5% |
| Over 65 | 22.6% | 22.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
St. George's cost of living index is 96.1 vs Surprise's 101.2 (US average = 100).
St. George is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Surprise leads 14 of 22 categories. St. George 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 St. George to Surprise or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($415,200 vs $352,600 median home), income ($69,333 vs $87,756), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
St. George, UT and Surprise, AZ are about 244 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.