Signals
Gold Canyon
Surprise
Opportunity
45 · Bottom 26%
vs45 · Bottom 27%
Climate
57 · Bottom 9%
vs58 · Bottom 10%
Physical resilience
30 · Bottom 23%
vs47 · Bottom 37%
Housing affordability
71 · Bottom 35%
vs67 · Bottom 29%
Access
97 · Top 23%
vs94 · Top 42%
Economic stability
40 · Bottom 18%
vs53 · Bottom 37%
Measured values
| Metric | Gold Canyon | Surprise | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 13,107 | 154,948 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $93,377 | $96,711 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $60,558 | $41,888 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 457/sq mi | 1,402/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $508,100 | $435,100 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,542 | $2,033 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 94.2% | 79.1% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 5.7% | 5.2% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -3.7% | -3.9% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 40.2% | 30.5% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 3.8% | 8.6% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Average July high | 105°F | 104°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 43°F | 44°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 12.6" | 8.9" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 14 mi | 18 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 35.9 min | 32.4 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 66.6 | 41.4 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 1 | 37 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 18.80 | 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
Gold Canyon
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.
Gold Canyon
57
Your Score
—
Area Score
Surprise
62
Your Score
58
Area Score
Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: Gold Canyon, AZ · Surprise, AZ · How this is calculated: methodology