Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Surprise, AZ
VS
Toledo, OH
🏆 Surprise leads 17 of 23 categories
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
Toledo
Ohio
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$45,405
Violent Crime Index
274⚠ High
Population
269,962 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Surprise, AZ
Pros
Households earn $42,351 more per year on average
90% less violent crime than Toledo
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.6 pts lower (4.6%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (109.1 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 34°F
More college-educated — 31.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $352,600
Higher rents — median is $1,822/mo
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Toledo
Longer commutes — 30.5 min average each way
Toledo, OH
Pros
Homes cost $254k less ($98,800 vs $352,600)
Rent averages $968/mo less ($854 vs $1,822)
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Surprise
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 105°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.4)
Cons
Median income trails Surprise by $42,351/yr
Violent crime (1041.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2732.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.2% vs 4.6%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Surprise
Median Income
$42,351
$87,756 vs $45,405/yr
Surprise
Violent Crime
90% lower
109.1 vs 1041.1 per 100k
Surprise
Unemployment
3.6 pp lower
4.6% vs 8.2% unemployment
Surprise
Summer Heat
20.0°F warmer
July avg high 104.6°F vs 84.6°F
Toledo
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 90.4 vs 101.2 (100 = US avg)
Toledo
Median Home Value
$254k less
$98,800 vs $352,600
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Surprise, AZ | Toledo, OH |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 101.2⚠ High | 90.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $352,600⚠ High | $98,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,822⚠ High | $854 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $87,756 ✓ Higher | $45,405 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.5 min⚠ High | 19.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 14.8% ✓ Higher | 4.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 34 ✓ Safer | 216⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 29 ✓ Safer | 274⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 42 ✓ Safer | 130⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) ✓ Better | C+ (86) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.0:1 | 15.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.0% ✓ Higher | 20.2% |
| High School or Higher | 93.7% ✓ Higher | 88.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Dysart Unified District (4243) | Toledo City |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.2°F ✓ Warmer | 33.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 104.6°F ✓ Warmer | 84.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 9.9" ✓ Drier | 37.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 37.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 145,591 | 269,962 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 41.5 ✓ Older | 35.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 78.4% ✓ Higher | 52.4% |
| Under 18 | 24.5% ✓ More | 23.0% |
| Over 65 | 22.6% ✓ More | 14.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Surprise's cost of living index is 101.2 vs Toledo's 90.4 (US average = 100).
Toledo is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Surprise leads 17 of 23 categories. Surprise wins 17 and Toledo wins 6. 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 Toledo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($352,600 vs $98,800 median home), income ($87,756 vs $45,405), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Surprise, AZ and Toledo, OH are about 1,663 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.