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CITY · 2000 CENSUS

Surprise

Arizona · 30,848 residents · 111 sq mi
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The short version

With 30,848 people, Surprise is a city in Arizona. The population has more than tripled since 1990, adding 23,726 people. The median age is 46.1, about 11 years above the US median. 88% of homes are owner-occupied. Getting to work takes 24 minutes on average. About 20% of adults have finished a four-year degree.

At a glance
Average income
near the US median
US median: $42,589
Older
median age 46.1
US median: 35.2
Less educated
20% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 24%
Less affordable
home values up 80%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $120,530
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
30,848
+333%since 1990
from 7,122 in 1990
1990 – 2025
Median age
46.1
+42%since 1990
from 32.6 in 1990
US average: 35.2
Land area
111 sq mi
Population, 1990 – 2024
042K85K127K170K19902000201020202024Surprise
2024155K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2000
Under 57.3%(2,247)
US avg: 6.8%
5 to 95.8%(1,790)
US avg: 7.3%
10 to 144.6%(1,431)
US avg: 7.3%
15 to 193.7%(1,130)
US avg: 7.2%
20 to 245.5%(1,684)
US avg: 6.7%
25 to 3413.6%(4,195)
US avg: 14.2%
35 to 448.8%(2,730)
US avg: 16%
45 to 548.9%(2,751)
US avg: 13.4%
55 to 6416.4%(5,047)
US avg: 8.6%
65 to 7417.1%(5,267)
US avg: 6.5%
75 to 847.2%(2,214)
US avg: 4.4%
85 and over1.2%(362)
US avg: 1.5%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$44,156
+54%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $21,750 in 1990
US average: $42,589
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$21,451
+163%since 1990
from $8,160 in 1990
US average: $21,522
Poverty rate
8.7%
−19.3 ptssince 1990
from 28.0% in 1990
US average: 12.4%
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$122,400
+80%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $51,700 in 1990
US average: $120,530
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$663
+25%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $401 in 1990
US average: $602
Owner-occupied
88.3%
+10.4 ptssince 1990
from 77.9% in 1990
11.7% rent
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

1990
White, non-Hispanic54.7%(3,896)
Black1.7%(123)
Hispanic / Latino57.5%(4,093)
Asian0.1%(8)
2000
White, non-Hispanic71.8%(22,136)
Black2.4%(744)
Hispanic / Latino23.3%(7,184)
Asian1%(321)

No data for the years selected.

Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Detailed origin tables are available for 2024; showing 2024 data.

Hispanic origin
Mexican15.3%(23,779)
Central American0.9%(1,442)
Spaniard0.8%(1,276)
Puerto Rican0.8%(1,225)
Salvadoran0.6%(886)
Cuban0.4%(667)
Colombian0.3%(390)
Panamanian0.1%(208)
Chilean0.1%(207)
Guatemalan0.1%(167)
Honduran0.1%(144)
+ 9 more hispanic origin groups with data
Dominican0.1%(121)
Peruvian0.1%(115)
Argentine0%(42)
Bolivian0%(37)
Asian origin
Filipino1.2%(1,883)
Vietnamese0.3%(480)
Chinese0.3%(437)
Japanese0.2%(281)
Korean0.2%(281)
Asian Indian0.1%(205)
Laotian0.1%(84)
Thai0%(35)
Hmong0%(33)
Kazakh0%(25)
Cambodian0%(23)
+ 1 more asian origin group with data
Taiwanese0%(11)
Pacific Islander origin
Samoan0.3%(465)
Chamorro0.3%(439)
Ancestry
German16%(24,823)
English12.8%(19,830)
Irish11%(17,041)
Italian5.8%(8,997)
American4.6%(7,196)
Polish3%(4,697)
Norwegian2.2%(3,428)
French2.2%(3,372)
Scottish1.8%(2,767)
Swedish1.7%(2,624)
Dutch0.9%(1,349)
Danish0.8%(1,203)
+ 42 more ancestry groups with data
Greek0.7%(1,075)
Welsh0.7%(1,075)
Scotch-Irish0.7%(1,034)
Arab0.7%(1,016)
Portuguese0.6%(955)
Russian0.6%(930)
Romanian0.4%(636)
Austrian0.4%(607)
West Indian0.4%(583)
Czech0.4%(560)
British0.3%(524)
Hungarian0.3%(434)
Canadian0.3%(426)
Syrian0.2%(347)
Jamaican0.2%(347)
Swiss0.2%(314)
Iraqi0.2%(297)
Finnish0.2%(285)
Australian0.2%(277)
Ukrainian0.2%(255)
Croatian0.1%(194)
Jordanian0.1%(165)
Nigerian0.1%(158)
Lithuanian0.1%(149)
Slovak0.1%(148)
Armenian0.1%(126)
Lebanese0.1%(121)
Haitian0.1%(113)
Slovene0.1%(86)
Bulgarian0%(63)
Brazilian0%(46)
Serbian0%(44)
Iranian0%(41)
Belgian0%(39)
Turkish0%(34)
Guyanese0%(27)
Latvian0%(24)
Israeli0%(20)
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
20.5%
+13.0 ptssince 1990
from 7.5% in 1990
US average: 24.4%
High school or higher
85.0%
+32.8 ptssince 1990
from 52.2% in 1990
US average: 80.3%
Graduate degree
6.8%
+4.4 ptssince 1990
from 2.4% in 1990
US average: 8.8%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
23.5 min
+14%since 1990
from 20.6 min in 1990
US average: 17.6
Section 07

Work & employment

No data for the years selected.

Section 08

People & community

No data for the years selected.

Marital status
Men 15+
Never married15.4%(1,902)
Married75.4%(9,291)
Widowed3%(365)
Divorced6.3%(771)
Women 15+
Never married12.1%(1,586)
Married71.2%(9,312)
Widowed8.6%(1,123)
Divorced8.1%(1,057)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2000
Section 09

Health coverage

Showing 2024 (the nearest year with coverage data).

Uninsured
6.1%
−3.9 ptssince 2013
from 10.0% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Employer-based
59.1%
+2.5 ptssince 2020
from 56.6% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
13.9%
+0.8 ptssince 2020
from 13.1% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
Medicare
22.6%
−1.5 ptssince 2020
from 24.1% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
Medicaid
14.0%
Unchangedsince 2020
from 14.0% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
3.7%
+0.6 ptssince 2020
from 3.1% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
74.0%
+3.5 ptssince 2020
from 70.5% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
36.0%
−1.3 ptssince 2020
from 37.3% in 2020
US average: 36.7%

Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.

Section 09 · Service history

Veterans

Veterans by period of service, 2024
Gulf War (2001 or later)31.2%(4,008)
US avg: 26.4%
Gulf War (1990s)24.1%(3,086)
US avg: 24.3%
Vietnam era35.9%(4,604)
US avg: 33.1%
Korean War3.3%(426)
US avg: 4.5%
World War II0.5%(61)
US avg: 1%

Share of the 12,830 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.

BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Drill deeper

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Head to head

Compare Surprise to nearby cities

SURPRISE VS
Sun City West
Income$63,685+44%
Home value$377,800+209%
Population27,425−84%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SURPRISE VS
El Mirage
Income$78,050+77%
Home value$321,900+163%
Population35,820−80%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SURPRISE VS
Sun City
Income$54,586+24%
Home value$280,900+129%
Population37,486−79%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SURPRISE VS
Peoria
Income$95,815+117%
Home value$463,600+279%
Population200,881+15%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Surprise, Arizona?

Surprise, Arizona has about 30,848 residents according to the 2000 Census.

What is the median household income in Surprise, Arizona?

The typical household in Surprise, Arizona earns about $44,156 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Surprise, Arizona expensive?

In Surprise, Arizona, the median home is worth about $122,400, and the typical rent is about $663 a month.

How educated are people in Surprise, Arizona?

About 20.5% of adults age 25 and over in Surprise, Arizona hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Surprise, Arizona?

About 8.7% of people in Surprise, Arizona live below the federal poverty line.

Has Surprise, Arizona grown since 1990?

Yes, Surprise, Arizona has grown since 1990. The population has added about 23,726 residents, a change of about 333 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →