Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Surprise, AZ
VS
West Covina, 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
West Covina
California
2
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$96,219 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
63
Population
108,173
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Surprise, AZ
Pros
Homes cost $312k less ($352,600 vs $664,500)
54% less violent crime than West Covina
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.1 pts lower (4.6%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (109.1 vs 380/100k)
14% cheaper overall cost of living than West Covina
Rent averages $232/mo less ($1,822 vs $2,054)
Cons
Median income trails West Covina by $8,463/yr
Hot summers — July highs average 105°F
West Covina, CA
Pros
Violent crime is well below the national average (239.3 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $8,463 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 90°F vs 105°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $664,500
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Cost of living runs 14% higher than Surprise
Higher rents — median is $2,054/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Surprise
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 101.2 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Surprise
Violent Crime
54% lower
109.1 vs 239.3 per 100k
Surprise
Median Home Value
$312k less
$352,600 vs $664,500
Surprise
Unemployment
2.1 pp lower
4.6% vs 6.7% unemployment
Surprise
Summer Heat
14.3°F warmer
July avg high 104.6°F vs 90.3°F
West Covina
Median Income
$8,463
$96,219 vs $87,756/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Surprise, AZ | West Covina, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 101.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $352,600⚠ High ✓ Lower | $664,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,822⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,054⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $87,756 | $96,219 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.5 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 33.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 14.8% ✓ Higher | 9.2% |
| 🔒 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 | 63 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 42 ✓ Safer | 100 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) ✓ Better | B- (92) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.0% ✓ Higher | 29.8% |
| High School or Higher | 93.7% ✓ Higher | 86.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Dysart Unified District (4243) | West Covina Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.2°F | 67.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 104.6°F ✓ Warmer | 90.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 9.9" ✓ Drier | 16.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 145,591 ✓ Larger | 108,173 |
| Median Age | 41.5 ✓ Older | 39.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 78.4% ✓ Higher | 62.4% |
| Under 18 | 24.5% ✓ More | 19.7% |
| Over 65 | 22.6% ✓ More | 16.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Surprise's cost of living index is 101.2 vs West Covina's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Surprise is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Surprise leads 20 of 22 categories. Surprise wins 20 and West Covina 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 West Covina or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($352,600 vs $664,500 median home), income ($87,756 vs $96,219), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Surprise, AZ and West Covina, CA are about 314 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.