Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Surprise, AZ
VS
Tracy, CA
🏆 Surprise leads 20 of 22 categories
Surprise
Arizona
20
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$87,756
Violent Crime Index
29 ✓ Safer
Population
145,591 ✓ Larger
Tracy
California
2
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$111,717 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
79
Population
94,027
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Surprise, AZ
Pros
Homes cost $265k less ($352,600 vs $617,300)
64% less violent crime than Tracy
Commutes run 13 min shorter each way
Violent crime is well below the national average (109.1 vs 380/100k)
Rent averages $340/mo less ($1,822 vs $2,162)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (4.6%)
Cons
Median income trails Tracy by $23,961/yr
Hot summers — July highs average 105°F
Tracy, CA
Pros
Households earn $23,961 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 93°F vs 105°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $617,300
Higher rents — median is $2,162/mo
Higher unemployment (5.4% vs 4.6%)
Longer commutes — 43.5 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Surprise
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 101.2 vs 107.4 (100 = US avg)
Surprise
Violent Crime
64% lower
109.1 vs 301.4 per 100k
Surprise
Median Home Value
$265k less
$352,600 vs $617,300
Surprise
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
4.6% vs 5.4% unemployment
Surprise
Summer Heat
11.4°F warmer
July avg high 104.6°F vs 93.2°F
Tracy
Median Income
$23,961
$111,717 vs $87,756/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Surprise, AZ | Tracy, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 101.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 107.4⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $352,600⚠ High ✓ Lower | $617,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,822⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,162⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $87,756 | $111,717 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.5 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 43.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 14.8% ✓ Higher | 11.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 34 ✓ Safer | 78 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 29 ✓ Safer | 79 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 42 ✓ Safer | 76 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) ✓ Better | C- (71) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.0% ✓ Higher | 24.4% |
| High School or Higher | 93.7% ✓ Higher | 83.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Dysart Unified District (4243) | Jefferson Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.2°F ✓ Warmer | 57.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 104.6°F ✓ Warmer | 93.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 9.9" ✓ Drier | 12.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 145,591 ✓ Larger | 94,027 |
| Median Age | 41.5 ✓ Older | 34.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 78.4% ✓ Higher | 64.0% |
| Under 18 | 24.5% | 26.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 22.6% ✓ More | 9.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Surprise's cost of living index is 101.2 vs Tracy's 107.4 (US average = 100).
Surprise is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Surprise leads 20 of 22 categories. Surprise wins 20 and Tracy wins 2. 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 Tracy or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($352,600 vs $617,300 median home), income ($87,756 vs $111,717), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Surprise, AZ and Tracy, CA are about 577 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.