Gilbert vs Surprise
Gilbert, Arizona versus Surprise, Arizona: a factual, side-by-side comparison of cost of living, housing, safety, schools, and climate. Greener figures rank better among US places.
Gilbert edges out Surprise on overall objective livability (57 vs 52 of 100), though each leads on different factors below.
Factor-by-factor comparison
| Factor | Gilbert | Surprise |
|---|---|---|
| Affordability | ||
| Median Household Income | $115k | $88k |
| Cost of Living | $57k | $57k |
| Home Value | $454k | $353k |
| Monthly Rent | $2k | $2k |
| Monthly Owner Costs | $2k | $2k |
| Property Tax Rate | 0.51% | 0.50% |
| Income Tax | 2.50% | 2.50% |
| Sales Tax | 8.38% | 8.38% |
| Estimated total tax burden | 7.27% | 7.26% |
| Unemployment | 3.5% | 4.6% |
| Weather | ||
| Winter Temp (Jan) | 56°F | 55°F |
| Summer Temp (Jul) | 94°F | 94°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.8 in | 9.9 in |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0 in | 0.0 in |
| Sunny Days | 274 days | 274 days |
| Summer Humidity | 54°F | 54°F |
| Comfortable Days | 117 days | 114 days |
| Safety & Wellbeing | ||
| Natural Disaster Risk | 66.9 | 71.6 |
| Air Quality | 43 AQI | 44 AQI |
| School Quality | 29.7 | 33.8 |
| Violent Crime | 797/100k | 762/100k |
| Property Crime | 1017/100k | 1403/100k |
| Community | ||
| Population | 267,267 | 145,591 |
| Median Age | 35.4 | 41.5 |
| Racial Diversity | 0.41 | 0.39 |
| Male/Female Ratio | 0.98 | 0.90 |
| Political Leaning | Even | Even |
| White (%) | 67.1% | 65.9% |
| Black (%) | 3.8% | 5.0% |
| Hispanic (%) | 17.6% | 20.9% |
| Asian (%) | 6.0% | 2.4% |
| Other / Multiracial (%) | 5.5% | 5.7% |
| Getting Around | ||
| Commute Time | 27 min | 30 min |
| Walkability | 10.3/20 | 6.2/20 |
| Airport Distance | 17 mi | 32 mi |
| Lifestyle & Connectivity | ||
| Broadband Access | 96.7% | 94.4% |
| Amenities Nearby | 60.13 | 12.23 |
| Park & Nature Access | Limited | Limited |
Each figure is colored by how it ranks among all US places: green is strong, amber average, red weaker. Neutral factors (population, demographics, target-style climate) show their percentile without a better/worse claim.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Gilbert or Surprise more affordable?
- Surprise has the lower cost of living: its index is $57k, compared with Gilbert's $57k and Surprise's $57k. Median rent is $2k in Gilbert versus $2k in Surprise.
- Is Gilbert or Surprise safer?
- Surprise has the lower violent crime rate. Gilbert reports 797/100k and Surprise reports 762/100k (violent crimes per 100,000 residents).
- Are homes cheaper in Gilbert or Surprise?
- The median home value is $454k in Gilbert and $353k in Surprise, so homes are more affordable in Surprise.