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Neighborhood report

Surprise, AZ

Founded 1937Maricopa CountyElev. 358 m
Population
149,519
Median home
$396,000
Disaster risk
Very High
Public schools
36
Sex offenders
6

Overview

About Surprise

Surprise is a city in Arizona with about 149,519 residents. Surprise was founded in 1937 and sits in Maricopa County. The median age is 41.6 and the median household income is $93,371. Homes carry a median value of $396,000, and about 79% of residents own where they live. White residents make up the largest share of the population (66.9%). Around 31% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and the typical commute runs about 30 minutes.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (5-year).

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Who lives here

Demographics

Population
149,519
Median age
41.6
Median household income
$93,371
Per-capita income
$39,604
Poverty rate
7.8%
High-school grad or higher
94.3%
Bachelor's degree or higher
31%
Unemployment
4.2%
Avg. commute
30.3 min
Work from home
17.6%
Residents by race & ethnicity
White66.9%
Hispanic or Latino19.2%
Black4.6%
Asian2.5%
Workforce by occupation
Management, business, science & arts42.3%
Sales & office25.7%
Service13.9%
Production, transportation & material moving11.2%
Natural resources, construction & maintenance6.8%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (5-year).

Housing

Property report

Median home value
$396,000
Median gross rent
$1,917/mo
Owner-occupied
79%
Median year built
2004
Households
54,442
Avg. household size
2.73

Area-level figures. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS (5-year). Parcel-level records coming next.

Education

Schools

Schools: Mixed

Surprise has 36 public schools — 18 elementary, 4 middle, 13 high.

Student proficiency · grade 8, 19 schools
Reading47%
Math39%

% of students at or above proficient on state assessments.

Dysart iSchoolHighGrades 7–12
Highland PrepHighGrades 9–12charter
Imagine Prep SurpriseHighGrades 9–12charter
Northwest CampusHighGrades 10–12
Paradise Honors High SchoolHighGrades 9–12charter
Shadow Ridge High SchoolHighGrades 7–12
ThrivePoint High School at SurpriseHighGrades 9–12charter
Valley Vista High SchoolHighGrades 7–12
West-MEC - Shadow Ridge High SchoolHighGrades 9–12
West-MEC - Valley Vista High SchoolHighGrades 9–12
West-MEC - Willow Canyon High SchoolHighGrades 9–12
West-MEC Paradise HonorsHighGrades 9–12
Willow Canyon High SchoolHighGrades 7–12
Ashton Ranch Middle SchoolMiddleGrades 5–8

Public schools + grade-8 proficiency. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education (NCES directory + EDFacts assessments), via Urban Institute.

Safety

Crime

violent crime74% below national
Surprise100
Arizona429
United States386
↑ 2% higher than 2019
2019–2023
property crime36% below national
Surprise1,258
Arizona1,896
United States1,952
↓ 15% lower than 2019
2019–2023

Rate per 100,000 residents/year, Surprise Police Department, 2023. Source: FBI UCR/NIBRS (Crime Data Explorer).

Environment

Environmental hazards

1 facility in Surprise report releasing toxic chemicals to the EPA under the Toxics Release Inventory (TRI).

Rioglass Solar Inc · Maricopa County

Facilities reporting to the EPA Toxics Release Inventory. Source: U.S. EPA Envirofacts (TRI).

Risk

Natural disaster risk

Very High
Top hazards · Maricopa County
HailVery High
Heat waveVery High
Riverine floodingVery High
Strong windVery High
DroughtRelatively High
LightningRelatively High

County-level natural-hazard risk. Source: FEMA National Risk Index.

Context

Neighborhood info

Surprise is in Maricopa County — see county-wide risk, demographics, and registry.

Surprise was founded in 1937 and sits in Maricopa County. Elevation ~358 m.

Map of Surprise
Surprise, AZ
Where Surprise is
PhoenixTucsonMesaChandlerGilbertGlendaleSurprise
Notable people from Surprise
Colleen Planeta
People searches in Surprise
Michael Smith (24)John Smith (22)James Smith (21)David Smith (19)Robert Smith (19)Michael Johnson (19)John Johnson (17)James Johnson (16)Michael Williams (16)William Smith (15)David Johnson (15)Robert Johnson (15)John Williams (14)Michael Brown (14)Michael Jones (14)James Williams (14)David Williams (13)John Brown (13)Robert Williams (13)John Jones (13)William Johnson (12)Mary Smith (12)James Brown (12)James Jones (12)
Nearby cities
El Mirage (9 mi)Peoria (12 mi)Glendale (18 mi)Buckeye (20 mi)Phoenix (22 mi)Avondale (26 mi)

Registered sex offenders in Surprise, AZ (6)

Public sex-offender registry records for Surprise, Arizona.

Kevin Jackson, 59
Surprise · 85374
AKA Kelvin Jackson
Kristoffer Mikal Green, 44
Surprise · 85379
AKA Christopher Green, Kristoffer Green
Christopher Robinson, 41
Surprise · 85387
AKA Chris Robinson, Christopher Wayne Robinson
Scott David Maki, 56
Surprise · 85378
AKA Scott Maki, Scott D Maki
Michael D Thomas, 75
Surprise · 85374
AKA Michael Dean Thomas
Johnny Moore, 58
Surprise · 85388
AKA John-Jr Moore, Johnny-Jr Moore

Source: Dru Sjodin National Sex Offender Public Website (NSOPW) and state registries. Public record. This information is provided for public awareness. Using it to harass, threaten, or discriminate against any registrant, or for any purpose prohibited by law, is illegal. Verify against the official registry record before relying on it.

Common questions

Surprise — frequently asked

What is the population of Surprise, Arizona?
Surprise has a population of about 149,519, according to the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (5-year).
What is the average home value in Surprise?
The median home value in Surprise is $396,000, and the median gross rent is $1,917/month (U.S. Census ACS).
Is Surprise safe? What is the crime rate?
Surprise Police Department reported a violent-crime rate of about 100 per 100,000 residents in 2023 — lower than the U.S. rate of 386. Source: FBI UCR/NIBRS.
What natural-disaster risks does Surprise face?
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Maricopa County as "Very High" overall, with top hazards including hail, heat wave, riverine flooding.
How many schools are in Surprise?
Surprise has 36 public schools (18 elementary, 4 middle, 13 high). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education, NCES.
How many registered sex offenders are in Surprise?
Public registry data lists 6 registered sex offenders in or near Surprise. This is neighborhood-safety information from the public state registry.
Look up a person in Surprise →