City profile
Surprise, AZ
Maricopa County · Population 154,948
Surprise is a city in Maricopa County, AZ with about 154,948 residents and a typical home value near $435,000. It is 27 miles from Phoenix, AZ, which shapes its climate, healthcare access and amenities.
Climate
Climate type
Dry desert
Winter avg
55°F
Summer avg
95°F
Sunny days / yr
299
Home prices & cost of living
Median home price
$435,100
Typical monthly housing
$2,581
Cost of living (100 = U.S.)
106
Taxes
- Property tax
- 0.60%
- State income tax (top)
- 2.5%
- Social Security
- Not taxed
- Pensions
- Partly exempt
- Sales tax (state + avg. local)
- 8.38%
FEMA natural hazard risk
Very High · county score 100/100
Top hazards: Heat wave, Riverine flooding, Wildfire
Nearest major airport
30 mi to Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX)
Political lean (2024 county vote)
Competitive / purple · 48% Democratic / 51% Republican
Community
Population
154,948
Black population
4.6%
County
Maricopa County
Detailed crime figures are available for our 201 hand-researched cities.
2025–2026 trends
2026 market trends
- ▸AZ is gaining retirees — a sign of strong retiree services and community
- ▸Home prices are softening in 2026 — more room to negotiate
- ▸Climate/cost risks to check: extreme heat, water scarcity
Highlights
- About 154,948 residents
- Typical home value about $435,000
- 27 miles from Phoenix, AZ
Trade-offs
- Scores for this place are estimated from Census data and the nearest major city
Figures are estimates from public sources (see How we match). Verify before making decisions.