City Town Info

Surprise, AZ


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Surprise, Arizona

Introduction to Surprise, Arizona

Surprise, Arizona is 6 miles NW of Peoria, Arizona and 19 miles NW of Phoenix, Arizona. It is in Maricopa county. The city is part of the Phoenix - Mesa metropolitan area. The population of Surprise is 30,848.

Surprise History

Real estate developer and state legislator Homer C. Ludden founded the city of Surprise in 1938. The community was named after his hometown of Surprise, Nebraska. Initially, there were only a few houses and a gas station in the area. However, Surprise experienced dramatic growth over the following years and was officially incorporated as a city in 1960. Sun City Grand, an age-restricted resort-like community, was built in the city by the Del Webb property development firm. In the 1990s and early 2000s, many retirees moved to the city to live in this community.

Surprise and nearby Attractions

  • Bead Museum
  • West Valley Art Museum
  • Lake Pleasant
  • Cerreta Candy Factory
  • White Tank Regional Park

Things To Do In Surprise

The Bead Museum showcases many exhibits about the global history of beads, some of which are over 30,000 years old. The West Valley Art Museum also provides valuable information about the local history and culture of the area. While in Surprise, one can also pay a visit to the Bard Ranch, Calderwood Station, Waddell Substation and the Surprise Town Hall. The Centennial Friendship Park and Surprise Park provide a host of recreational facilities for both residents and visitors.

Surprise Transportation

Luke AFB Airport provides facilities for air transportation.

Surprise Higher Education

Opportunities for higher education are provided by Phoenix College, Paradise Valley Community College, Gateway Community College and Glendale Community College.

High Points

Surprise strengths, compared to Peers (similar size places nationally) or State (other places in Arizona):

CategoryTrophy
Affordability of Property Taxes
(vs. Peers)		Top 12%Surprise Affordability of Property Taxes
Low Rate of Poverty
(vs. State)		Top 19%Surprise Low Rate of Poverty
People in Middle Class or Better
(vs. State)		Top 19%Surprise People in Middle Class or Better

Comparative Profile of Surprise, AZ

Comparing Surprise to similar size places nationwide (Peers) and to other places in Arizona (State):

Ratings range from 1 (lowest) to 10 (highest).


The People

CharacteristicCompared
to Peers		Compared
to State
Senior Citizens109
Age of the Population109
Male Share of the Population75
Children Under 5 Years Old75
Racial Diversity68
Female Share of the Population46
Well-Paid Single Men26
Well-Paid Single Women26

Families

CharacteristicCompared
to Peers		Compared
to State
Portion of People Married109
Average Household Size43

Wealth

CharacteristicCompared
to Peers		Compared
to State
People Above Poverty69
People in Middle Class or Better69
Median Family Income58
College Educated Adults47

Commute & Sprawl

CharacteristicCompared
to Peers		Compared
to State
Working at Home86
Walking and Biking to Work64
Public Transportation Use38
Short Commute Times21

Housing

CharacteristicCompared
to Peers		Compared
to State
Housing Recently Built1010
Seasonal and Vacation Housing109
Affordability of Property Taxes95
Affordability of Rents53
People Living Alone23
Studio & One-Bedroom Rentals12

Crime

CharacteristicCompared
to Peers		Compared
to State
Low Violent Crime68
Low Property Crime24

Detailed pages on related topics: Surprise travel • Surprise mortgage and property.

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All States > Arizona > Surprise

Additional Details

Surprise Hotels & TravelSurprise Hotels & Travel
Surprise hotels, landmarks, tourism, transportation.
Surprise MortgageSurprise Mortgage
Surprise property, mortgage, and real estate.

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