Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Surprise, AZ
VS
Tallahassee, FL
🏆 Surprise leads 11 of 19 categories
Surprise
Arizona
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$87,756 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
29
Population
145,591
Tallahassee
Florida
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$52,899
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
198,259 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Surprise, AZ
Pros
Households earn $34,857 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (109.1 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.9 pts lower (4.6%)
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,822/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $352,600
Longer commutes — 30.5 min average each way
Hot summers — July highs average 105°F
Tallahassee, FL
Pros
Rent averages $657/mo less ($1,165 vs $1,822)
Homes cost $96k less ($256,400 vs $352,600)
Commutes run 12 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 49.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 92°F vs 105°F
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Surprise
Cons
Median income trails Surprise by $34,857/yr
Higher unemployment (6.5% vs 4.6%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Surprise
Median Income
$34,857
$87,756 vs $52,899/yr
Surprise
Unemployment
1.9 pp lower
4.6% vs 6.5% unemployment
Surprise
Summer Heat
12.5°F warmer
July avg high 104.6°F vs 92.1°F
Tallahassee
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 95.3 vs 101.2 (100 = US avg)
Tallahassee
Median Home Value
$96k less
$256,400 vs $352,600
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Surprise, AZ | Tallahassee, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 101.2⚠ High | 95.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $352,600⚠ High | $256,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,822⚠ High | $1,165 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $87,756 ✓ Higher | $52,899 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.5 min⚠ High | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 14.8% ✓ Higher | 11.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 34 | — |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 29 | — |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 42 | — |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) | A- (113) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.0:1 | 17.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.0% | 49.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 93.7% ✓ Higher | 93.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Dysart Unified District (4243) | LEON |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.2°F ✓ Warmer | 63.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 104.6°F ✓ Warmer | 92.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 9.9" ✓ Drier | 57.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 145,591 | 198,259 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 41.5 ✓ Older | 27.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 78.4% ✓ Higher | 39.8% |
| Under 18 | 24.5% ✓ More | 16.7% |
| Over 65 | 22.6% ✓ More | 11.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Surprise's cost of living index is 101.2 vs Tallahassee's 95.3 (US average = 100).
Tallahassee is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 19 decided categories above, Surprise leads 11 of 19 categories. Surprise wins 11 and Tallahassee wins 8. 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 Surprise to Tallahassee or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($352,600 vs $256,400 median home), income ($87,756 vs $52,899), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Surprise, AZ and Tallahassee, FL are about 1,661 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.