Signals
Sun Lakes
Surprise
Opportunity
36 · Bottom 12%
vs45 · Bottom 27%
Climate
59 · Bottom 12%
vs58 · Bottom 10%
Physical resilience
40 · Bottom 31%
vs47 · Bottom 37%
Housing affordability
33 · Bottom 2%
vs67 · Bottom 29%
Access
97 · Top 23%
vs94 · Top 42%
Economic stability
31 · Bottom 8%
vs53 · Bottom 37%
Measured values
| Metric | Sun Lakes | Surprise | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 13,924 | 154,948 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $67,853 | $96,711 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $54,895 | $41,888 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 2,591/sq mi | 1,402/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $455,200 | $435,100 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,938 | $2,033 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 88.0% | 79.1% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 4.8% | 5.2% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -3.9% | -3.9% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 39.4% | 30.5% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 9.4% | 8.6% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| 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 | 14 mi | 18 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 21.9 min | 32.4 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 73.5 | 41.4 | 2024 ACS 5-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
Sun Lakes
Elevated or high exposure: wildfire, inland flooding.
Surprise
Elevated or high exposure: inland flooding.
Full profiles: Sun Lakes, AZ · Surprise, AZ · How this is calculated: methodology