Surprise, Arizona Income Statistics
Surprise Wealth Score
The wealth index reflects the overall economic prosperity and financial well-being of an area's residents based on income levels, employment rates, and income inequality metrics.
-
C
Surprise Below average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Surprise | Arizona Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $94,681 | $80,381 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $59,815 | $56,905 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 6.0% | 5.7% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 12.0% | 12.5% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 10.6% | 11.6% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Surprise is about 18% higher than in Arizona. Income has been growing faster in Surprise (6.0%/yr) than in Arizona (5.7%/yr).
About 12% of adults in Surprise earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, lower than the Arizona average of 12%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Surprise, Arizona grew by 54.6% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $94,681 in 2024. That's an average of about 6.0% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Surprise
| Metric | Surprise | Arizona Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.515 | 0.548 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $69,505 | $65,388 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $56,488 | $54,779 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 18.7% | 16.2% | 18.4% |
The Gini coefficient measures how evenly income is shared between richer and poorer households, from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns nearly everything). The lower the number, the more equally income is distributed. In Surprise, it is 0.515, lower than Arizona's 0.548, so income is more evenly distributed here than there, and lower than the US's 0.552, so income is more evenly distributed here than there.
Men's income is about 23% more than women's income in Surprise, Arizona. Over a 35-year career, a 23% wage gap accumulates to roughly $455,595 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Surprise, Arizona has narrowed from about 22% to 19% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 25% in 2012, and was narrowest at 18% in 2023. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $1,963 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Surprise | Arizona Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 4.3% | 5.1% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 19.0% | 18.4% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 27 | 22 | 22 |
Approximately 2,986 people are unemployed in Surprise, Arizona.
The average commute time in Surprise is 27 minutes, longer than the 22 minutes in Arizona.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Surprise, Arizona has fallen from 8.5% to 4.3% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 9.7% in 2013.
Surprise, AZ Wealth Compared With Nearby Cities
How Surprise, AZ compares with the 2 cities closest to it.
| Area | Population | Median household income | Income growthAverage yearly change in median household income since 2016. Each year is measured in its own dollars, so this is growth before inflation. | Unemployment | Income inequalityGini coefficient: 0 would mean every household earns the same, 1 that a single household earns everything. The lower the number, the more equally income is shared here. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Surprise, AZ | 150,965 | $94,681 #1/3 | 6.0%/yr #2/3 | 4.3% #2/3 | 0.515 #2/3 |
| Sun City West, AZ | 25,067 | $64,178 | 4.4%/yr | 3.7% | 0.479 |
| El Mirage, AZ | 34,950 | $79,919 | 6.3%/yr | 5.7% | 0.529 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Surprise, Arizona has an overall wealth index grade of C, making it somewhat better than Arizona, and about on par with the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Surprise, Arizona.
How Rich Is Surprise, Arizona?
Surprise has a wealth index grade of C. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; a C grade means residents are close to the U.S. average. The median household income is $94,681, about 18% higher than the Arizona average of $80,381.
Are incomes growing in Surprise, Arizona?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Surprise, Arizona rose 55%, from $61,229 to $94,681. Over the same years, income here lagged behind Arizona as a whole: +55% against +60%.
What was the median household income in Surprise in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Surprise, Arizona was $90,429, up 5% from $86,390 in 2022. The Arizona median that year was $77,075.
What was the median household income in Surprise in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Surprise, Arizona was $70,449. By 2024 it had risen 34% to $94,681.
What is the Gini coefficient in Surprise, Arizona?
The Gini coefficient in Surprise is 0.515. It measures income inequality on a scale from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns everything). That is lower than the US average of 0.552, so income is distributed more equally than in the country overall.
How has the income gap between men and women changed in Surprise, Arizona?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Surprise, Arizona has narrowed from about 22% to 19% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 25% in 2012, and was narrowest at 18% in 2023. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $1,963 since 2009.
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