Is Surprise, Arizona A Good Place To Live?

Arizona is fast becoming a destination, particularly for retirees. Given the warmer year-round climate, that should not come as a surprise. We know about cities like Phoenix and Tempe, the two largest cities in Arizona.

But what about Surprise, AZ? Is that a good place to settle down? With great weather, low crime rates, a surprising sports scene, and affordable housing, Surprise is proving to be a great destination not just for retirees but demographics of all kinds. There is so much more to Surprise than you may have realized as well.

With a median home price of less than $200,000, Surprise is definitely cheaper for homes than some of the surrounding areas. Try getting a home in Phoenix or one of the other major cities in Arizona and you will see a substantial difference in the price.

Not only that, but homes in Surprise are fairly recent constructions on average. For instance, the median age of a home in Surprise is just 11 years. That means getting a home that has not had to face consistent wear and tear for decades.

Perhaps the best selling point about the housing market is appreciation. Over the last decade, homes in Surprise have appreciated nearly 40%. So, if you purchase a home in Sunrise, you can bet that it is going to be worth substantially more down the line. Home value appreciation numbers coming in way above the national average.

If you’re looking to live in a wealthy area in Arizona, check out the guide we wrote about it.

In any state, you will find areas that are safe and those that are definitely not with a lot of in-between. But Surprise, AZ is quite a bit safer than not only the rest of Arizona, but the nation at large.

The crime rates in Surprise are 36% lower than the current national average. If that weren’t impressive enough, the crime rates are also 47% lower than anywhere else in Arizona. That makes Surprise one of the safest areas to live in the country, not just in Arizona.

Still not impressed? The crime rate has been on a continuous downswing as well. In just the last year alone, crime rates have fallen by 17%. That indicates that Surprise takes its safety seriously and is making strides to improve on the already great security measures in place.

Given that Surprise is just a hop, skip, and a jump from Phoenix, it only makes sense that there is a ton to do in Surprise. Even if you opt not to head into the city, there is still plenty to keep residents entertained.

The shopping scene is excellent, the public transportation is solid, and there are plenty of entertainment spots to choose from. Even better, the health services available in Surprise are top-notch as well. The town has all bases covered when caring for entertaining residents.

Let’s for a minute ignore that Phoenix is not far away. You would have access to the Suns of the NBA, the Coyotes of the NHL, the Diamondbacks of the MLB, and the Cardinals of the NFL. But what about if you don’t feel like leaving town?

The sports scene within Surprise itself is just that: a surprise. If you are a baseball fan in particular, then Surprise Stadium is the place to be. It is the top spring training stadium for MLB teams in the state and hosts teams like the Texas Rangers and Kansas City Royals during the spring.

If that were not enough, the aquatic center is top-notch and there are plenty of tennis courts. But the golf courses are the star. Enjoy world-class courses right there in Surprise without ever having to venture into the city.

The city has invested in several public art installations as well. They have a particularly fascinating bronze obelisk that is devoted to the courageous contributions of firefights. They also have a huge 27-foot metal tree that can easily be found in the Surprise Community Park.

Surprise cares about its art scene and invests in it as such. Local installations feature artists from the area, giving them the platform to share their work with the community. It gives Surprise an artistic identity all its own.

While the weather is certainly an important factor in drawing people to the state, it should not be forgotten that Arizona is a beautiful place to live in general. Surprise, being in the heart of the Sonoran Desert, enjoys that beautiful scenery every single day.

Being less than 2 hours from Flagstaff, the cool pines are just a short drive away. Arizona in general has a widely varied appeal. That’s not even talking about the national landmark that is the Grand Canyon being right around the corner.

It certainly is great to have rising home values or scenic beauty in an area. But if the people there are not friendly, none of that will matter all that much. The people in Surprise are some of the friendliest in Arizona, making it warm and welcoming to newcomers.

Because Surprise is not a major city like Phoenix or Tempe, it has a community feel to it. Neighbors are friendly and welcoming, treating one another with care and respect. Compared to the big city, that can make all the difference in the world when moving to a new place.

For the historical buffs out there, nothing can quite match living in a place like Surprise. After all, Arizona is in the heart of the Old West, where some of the greatest stories in early American history have been told.

Many legendary western films have taken place there, including Tombstone. There are tours to these places that have only been seen in the movies, providing some of the best weekend road trips that you could possibly have.

Not only that, there are local historical sites that may not pop out from a national standpoint but provide history and lore all the same. There is more to the history of Surprise than meets the eye.

Though the point has been made a few times, it bears repeating. This is not just a place for retiring seniors. Though it certainly hosts many seniors, families will find that Surprise is just as good a place to live for them as it is for seniors.

If that didn’t become apparent before, the plethora of educational options may be surprising. There are private charter schools across Surprise, along with 19 elementary schools and four different high schools.

Not only that, but Surprise is located near a plethora of universities and colleges as well. Estrella Mountain Community College, Glendale Community College, and Arizona State University are all within close proximity.

Given that Surprise has been praised for the friendliness of its residents, it may not come as much of a surprise that there are plenty of festivals and events to partake in throughout the year.

The Food Truck Festival, Second Sundays, and the Surprise Fine Art & Wine Festival are just a few of the traditional events that take place in the city. The Surprise Party, one of the biggest festivals in town, gets held in the first week of December.

Over the course of the year, the town celebrates in a variety of ways with food and music. There are car shows, carnivals, and even camel rides at the festivals.

Arizona has long been considered a destination for retirees looking for a warmer place to live. But that preconceived notion is being disproved by Surprise. Simply put Surprise is a great place to live no matter what age demographic you fit into.

Homes are surprisingly affordable especially compared to other parts of the state. Crime is extremely low by national standards and Surprise is safer than anywhere else in Arizona. And the art scene is burgeoning.

Surprise is especially friendly from its neighbors to residents at large. And the green ideals of the town ensure that water conservation, recycling, and other earth-saving procedures are put into effect. Finding a town that cares about the future of itself and the planet may not be possible.

Combined with a thriving sports scene, featuring some of the best golf courses in the country, there is not a lot that you cannot find in Surprise. Add in the beautiful Arizona scenery and it makes all the sense in the world to move to Surprise. There is so much to see and explore that it may…surprise you.