Surprise receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
Apache Junction
Surprise
Opportunity
31 · Bottom 7%
vs45 · Bottom 27%
Growth
90 · Top 1%
vs73 · Top 13%
Climate
59 · Bottom 12%
vs58 · Bottom 10%
Physical resilience
30 · Bottom 24%
vs47 · Bottom 37%
Housing affordability
84 · Top 44%
vs67 · Bottom 29%
Access
99 · Top 8%
vs94 · Top 42%
Economic stability
34 · Bottom 11%
vs53 · Bottom 37%
Measured values
| Metric | Apache Junction | Surprise | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 41,058 | 154,948 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $60,975 | $96,711 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $35,394 | $41,888 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 903/sq mi | 1,402/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $211,500 | $435,100 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,146 | $2,033 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 79.1% | 79.1% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 6.1% | 5.2% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -3.7% | -3.9% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 18.1% | 30.5% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 10.6% | 8.6% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 1,494 | 2,428 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 36.4 | 15.7 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 59.3% | -34.3% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 107°F | 104°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 46°F | 44°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 7.2" | 8.9" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 8 mi | 18 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 30.1 min | 32.4 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 53.1 | 41.4 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 10 | 37 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 16.89 | 19.16 | 2024-25 school year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
Apache Junction
Elevated or high exposure: heat wave, wildfire, inland flooding.
Surprise
Elevated or high exposure: inland flooding.
Your best match
Weight what matters to you. Your preferences stay in this browser and never change either Area Score.
Apache Junction
61
Your Score
56
Area Score
Surprise
62
Your Score
58
Area Score
Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: Apache Junction, AZ · Surprise, AZ · How this is calculated: methodology