United States › Arizona › Surprise CITY · 2020 ACS
Surprise Arizona · 143,148 residents · 111 sq mi
Time machine
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The short version
Surprise is home to 143,148 people in Arizona. The population has more than tripled since 2000, adding 112,300 people. Owners hold 77% of the housing stock. The median age is 42.2, about 3 years above the US median. Households here earn about 16% more than in Arizona as a whole. Poverty is uncommon here, at 7.6% of people here.
At a glance
Wealthier
above the US median
US median: $66,278
Older
median age 42.2
US median: 38.8
Average education
29% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
Less affordable
home values up 41%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01
Population & growth from 46.1 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Population, 1990 – 2024
0 42K 85K 127K 170K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Surprise Age distribution, 2020
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Section 02
Income & economy $71,192
+7%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $44,156 in 2000
US average: $66,278
from $21,451 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
from 36.1% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
from 8.7% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Public administration 7.3%
Professional, scientific, technical 4.8%
Transportation & warehousing 2.1%
Arts, entertainment, food 1.6%
Education & health services 1%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 0.4%
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$258,700
+41%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $122,400 in 2000
US average: $265,253
$1,443
+45%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $663 in 2000
US average: $1,124
from 88.3% in 2000
22.7% rent
from 2.83 people in 2009
US average: 2.61
from 4.0 in 2009
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Section 04
Race & ethnicity 2000
White, non-Hispanic 71.8%(22,136)
Hispanic / Latino 23.3%(7,184)
2020
White, non-Hispanic 66.3%(94,856)
Hispanic / Latino 19.8%(28,373)
No data for the years selected.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry Hispanic origin
+ 7 more hispanic origin groups with data Asian origin
+ 1 more asian origin group with data Ancestry
+ 41 more ancestry groups with data from 20.5% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
from 85.0% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
from 6.8% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 23.5 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
from 78.4% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
from 2.2% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07
Work & employment from 8.7% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
from 58.0% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
US average: 73.3%
from 33.5% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08
People & community from 9.7% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
from 10.0% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Computer in household
US average: 91.9%
Marital status (2024)
Women 15+
Never married 24.9%(16,389)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09
Health coverage from 10.0% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Direct-purchase
US average: 13.7%
VA health care
US average: 2.3%
Any private
US average: 68.1%
Any public
US average: 35.2%
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, 2020
Gulf War (2001 or later) 19.8%(2,362)
Gulf War (1990s) 22.1%(2,638)
Share of the 11,943 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.
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Drill deeper
Places similar to Surprise Head to head
Compare Surprise to nearby cities SURPRISE VS
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SURPRISE VS
El Mirage
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SURPRISE VS
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Peoria
Income $95,815 +35%
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Frequently asked
How many people live in Surprise, Arizona? Surprise, Arizona has about 143,148 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in Surprise, Arizona? The typical household in Surprise, Arizona earns about $71,192 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 $258,700, and the typical rent is about $1,443 a month.
How educated are people in Surprise, Arizona? About 29.2% 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 7.6% 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 136,026 residents, a change of about 1910 percent over that period.
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