Surprise, AZ

Census Place

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2021 Population

141,875

2.06% 1-year growth

US Senator

Kyrsten Sinema

Independent Party

US Senator

Mark Kelly

Democratic Party

2021 Median Age

41.7

0.477% 1-year decrease

2021 Poverty Rate

7.49%

1.55% 1-year decrease

2021 Median Household Income

$76,623

7.63% 1-year growth

2021 Median Property Value

$282,300

9.12% 1-year growth

2021 Employed Population

59,549

5.22% 1-year growth

About

In 2021, Surprise, AZ had a population of 142k people with a median age of 41.7 and a median household income of $76,623. Between 2020 and 2021 the population of Surprise, AZ grew from 139,007 to 141,875, a 2.06% increase and its median household income grew from $71,192 to $76,623, a 7.63% increase.

The 5 largest ethnic groups in Surprise, AZ are White (Non-Hispanic) (67.8%), White (Hispanic) (12.6%), Black or African American (Non-Hispanic) (4.97%), Two+ (Hispanic) (4.11%), and Other (Hispanic) (3.56%).

None of the households in Surprise, AZ reported speaking a non-English language at home as their primary shared language. This does not consider the potential multi-lingual nature of households, but only the primary self-reported language spoken by all members of the household.

98% of the residents in Surprise, AZ are U.S. citizens.

The largest universities in Surprise, AZ are Ottawa University-Surprise (147 degrees awarded in 2021).

In 2021, the median property value in Surprise, AZ was $282,300, and the homeownership rate was 76.4%.

Most people in Surprise, AZ drove alone to work, and the average commute time was 30 minutes. The average car ownership in Surprise, AZ was 2 cars per household.

United States Arizona Maricopa County, AZ Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ Phoenix (Far North) & Peoria (Northwest) Cities PUMA, AZ El Mirage City & Sun City PUMA, AZ Surprise City (Central) PUMA, AZ Maricopa County (West) & Gila River Indian Community (Northwest) PUMA, AZ

Population & Diversity

Surprise, AZ is home to a population of 142k people, from which 98% are citizens. As of 2021, 6.75% of Surprise, AZ residents were born outside of the country (9.58k people).

In 2021, there were 5.38 times more White (Non-Hispanic) residents (96.2k people) in Surprise, AZ than any other race or ethnicity. There were 17.9k White (Hispanic) and 7.05k Black or African American (Non-Hispanic) residents, the second and third most common ethnic groups.

Population & Diversity

Citizenship

98%

2021 Citizenship

97.1%

2020 Citizenship

As of 2021, 98% of Surprise, AZ residents were US citizens, which is higher than the national average of 93.4%. In 2020, the percentage of US citizens in Surprise, AZ was 97.1%, meaning that the rate of citizenship has been increasing.

The following chart shows US citizenship percentages in Surprise, AZ compared to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Diversity

Race and Ethnicity

The 3 largest ethnic groups in Surprise, AZ

White (Non-Hispanic)
96.2k ± 2.81k
White (Hispanic)
17.9k ± 2.17k
Black or African American (Non-Hispanic)
7.05k ± 1.13k

20.7%

Hispanic Population

29.4k people

20.7% of the people in Surprise, AZ are hispanic (29.4k people).

The following chart shows the 7 races represented in Surprise, AZ as a share of the total population.

Global Diversity

The PUMS dataset is not available at the Place level, so we are showing data for Arizona.

Most Common Origin

Mexico
498,978 ± 16,720 people
India
42,199 ± 5,028 people
Canada
40,798 ± 4,945 people

In 2021, the most common birthplace for the foreign-born residents of Arizona was Mexico, the natal country of 498,978 Arizona residents, followed by India with 42,199 and Canada with 40,798.

Foreign-Born Population

6.75%

2021 Foreign-Born Population

9.58k people

8.28%

2020 Foreign-Born Population

11.5k people

As of 2021, 6.75% of Surprise, AZ residents (9.58k people) were born outside of the United States, which is lower than the national average of 13.6%. In 2020, the percentage of foreign-born citizens in Surprise, AZ was 8.28%, meaning that the rate has been decreasing.

The following chart shows the percentage of foreign-born residents in Surprise, AZ compared to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Military

Veterans

Most Common Service Period

Vietnam
4,465 ± 442
Gulf War (2001-)
2,870 ± 508
Gulf War (1990s)
1,750 ± 302

Surprise, AZ has a large population of military personnel who served in Vietnam, 1.56 times greater than any other conflict.

Economy

The economy of Surprise, AZ employs 59.5k people. The largest industries in Surprise, AZ are Retail Trade (9,057 people), Health Care & Social Assistance (8,521 people), and Educational Services (5,768 people), and the highest paying industries are Utilities ($80,114), Mining, Quarrying, & Oil & Gas Extraction ($74,464), and Public Administration ($66,915).

Males in Arizona have an average income that is 1.3 times higher than the average income of females, which is $54,181. The income inequality in Arizona (measured using the Gini index) is 0.46, which is lower than than the national average.

Employment

Occupations

59.5k

2021 Value

± 2,149

5.22%

1 Year growth

± 5%

From 2020 to 2021, employment in Surprise, AZ grew at a rate of 5.22%, from 56.6k employees to 59.5k employees.

The most common job groups, by number of people living in Surprise, AZ, are Sales & Related Occupations (8,560 people), Office & Administrative Support Occupations (7,601 people), and Management Occupations (6,398 people). This chart illustrates the share breakdown of the primary jobs held by residents of Surprise, AZ.

Unemployment Insurance Claims

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for false.

This chart shows weekly unemployment insurance claims in Arizona (not-seasonally adjusted) compared with the four states with the most similar impact.

The most recent data point uses Advance State Claims data, which can be revised in subsequent weeks.

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Industries

Employment by Industries

59.5k

2021 Value

± 2,149

5.22%

1 Year growth

± 5%

From 2020 to 2021, employment in Surprise, AZ grew at a rate of 5.22%, from 56.6k employees to 59.5k employees.

The most common employment sectors for those who live in Surprise, AZ, are Retail Trade (9,057 people), Health Care & Social Assistance (8,521 people), and Educational Services (5,768 people). This chart shows the share breakdown of the primary industries for residents of Surprise, AZ, though some of these residents may live in Surprise, AZ and work somewhere else. Census data is tagged to a residential address, not a work address.

Median Earnings by Industry

$51,695

Median earning men ± $1,495

$38,344

Median earning women ± $2,661

The industries with the best median earnings for men in 2021 are Public Administration ($72,892), Information ($64,521), and Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing & Hunting, & Mining ($63,542).

The industries with the best median earnings for women in 2021 are Public Administration ($53,281), Finance & Insurance, & Real Estate & Rental & Leasing ($49,606), and Professional, Scientific, & Management, & Administrative & Waste Management Services ($48,490).

Employment by Industry Sector

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for false.

Y-Axis

2.75%

Year-over-year growth

Employment change between February 2022 and February 2023

As of February 2023, there are 155M people employed in Arizona. This represents a 2.75% increase in employment when compared to February 2022.

The following chart shows monthly employment numbers for each industry sector in Arizona.

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Domestic Trade

Domestic Production & Consumption

Domestic production and consumption consists of products and services shipped from Arizona to other states, or from other states to Arizona.

Top Domestic Production in Dollars

In 2020, the top outbound Arizona product (by dollars) was Electronics with $32B, followed by Pharmaceuticals ($21.3B) and Mixed freight ($18.1B).

The following chart shows the share of these products in relation to all outbound Arizona products.

Domestic Trade Growth

Showing data for Arizona.

$217B

2020 Value in Arizona

$464B

Projected 2050 Value in Arizona

114% growth

In 2020, total outbound Arizona trade was $217B. This is expected to increase 114% to $464B by 2050.

The following chart shows how the domestic outbound Arizona trade is projected to change in comparison to its neighboring states.

Interstate Trade

Interstate trade consists of products and services shipped from Arizona to other states, or from other states to Arizona.

Most Common Trade Partners

California
$30.8B
Texas
$14B
New Mexico
$5.1B

In 2020, the top outbound Arizona domestic partner for goods and services (by dollars) was California with $30.8B, followed by Texas with $14B and New Mexico and $5.1B.

The following map shows the amount of trade that Arizona shares with each state (excluding itself).

Civics

In the 2020 presidential election, the popular vote in Arizona went to Joseph R Biden Jr. with 49.4% of the vote. The runner-up was Donald J. Trump (49.1%), followed by Jo Jorgensen (1.52%).

Kyrsten Sinema and Mark Kelly are the senators currently representing the state of Arizona. In the United States, senators are elected to 6-year terms with the terms for individual senators staggered.

Arizona is currently represented by 9 members in the U.S. house, and members of the House of Representives are elected to 2-year terms.

Presidential Elections

Presidential Popular Vote Over Time

Voting results are not available for Surprise, AZ. Showing the available data for Arizona.

2020 Election Results

Joseph R Biden Jr. (49.4%)
Democratic Party
Donald J. Trump (49.1%)
Republican Party
Jo Jorgensen (1.52%)
Libertarian Party

In the 2020 presidential election, the popular vote in Arizona went to Joseph R Biden Jr. with 49.4% of the vote. The runner-up was Donald J. Trump (49.1%), followed by Jo Jorgensen (1.52%).

The following chart shows the popular vote results in Arizona for each registered party from 1976 to 2020.

Senator Elections

US Senators from Arizona

Senatorial voting results are only available at the state level. Showing data for Arizona.

Kyrsten Sinema

Senator from Arizona

Assumed office on January 3, 2019
Until 2022; Kyrsten Sinema won election to the Senate as a member of the Democratic Party.

Mark Kelly

Senator from Arizona

Assumed office on December 2, 2020
Elected to the seat to succeed Martha McSally, who had been appointed to the seat following the death of John McCain and the resignation of Jon Kyl.

Kyrsten Sinema and Mark Kelly are the senators currently representing Arizona.

In the United States, senators are elected to 6-year terms with the terms for individual senators staggered.

The following chart shows elected senators in Arizona over time, excluding special elections, colored by their political party.

US Representative Elections

US Representatives from Arizona

Arizona is currently represented by 9 members in the U.S. house.

Members of the House of Representives are elected to 2-year terms, and the following chart shows the how the members for Arizona have changed over time starting in 2008.

Education

In 2021, universities in Surprise, AZ awarded 147 degrees. The student population of Surprise, AZ in 2021 is skewed towards men, with 550 male students and 422 female students.

Most students graduating from Universities in Surprise, AZ are White (91 and 61.9%), followed by Hispanic or Latino (28 and 19%), Black or African American (15 and 10.2%), and Unknown (6 and 4.08%).

The largest universities in Surprise, AZ by number of degrees awarded are Ottawa University-Surprise (147 and 100%).

The most popular majors in Surprise, AZ are General Business Administration & Management (64 and 43.5%), General Psychology (22 and 15%), and General Biological Sciences (17 and 11.6%).

The median tuition cost in Surprise, AZ for private four year colleges is $29,600.

Admissions & Enrollments

Applicants, Admissions & Enrolled

Measure

In 2021 in Surprise, AZ, the percentage of applicants admitted was 30.5%, while the percentage of admitted who enrolled was 69.7%. The number of students enrolled in 2021 was 972 (56.6% men and 43.4% women).

The line chart shows the evolution of the percentage of applicants admitted, admitted who enrolled or the number of students enrolled according to the option selected in the upper button.

Enrollments by Gender and Races

In 2021 there were 972 students enrolled in Surprise, AZ, 56.6% men and 43.4% women.

By race, the largest number of students enrolled was concentrated in White with 440 records, of which 44.8% were women and 55.2% men.

Completions

Concentrations

Most Common

General Business Administration & Management
24 degree-majors awarded
General Psychology
22 degree-majors awarded
General Biological Sciences
17 degree-majors awarded

In 2021, the most common concentation for Bachelors Degree recipients in Surprise, AZ was General Business Administration & Management with 24 degrees awarded.

This visualization illustrates the percentage of students graduating with a Bachelors Degree from schools in Surprise, AZ according to their major.

Universities

Gender

Race

Ottawa University-Surprise

Largest Universities by degrees awarded

147 degrees awarded

In 2021, the institution with the largest number of graduating students was Ottawa University-Surprise with 147 degrees awarded.

Student Diversity

In 2021, 85 men were awarded degrees from institutions in Surprise, AZ, which is 1.37 times more than the 62 female students who received degrees in the same year.

In 2021 the most common race/ethnicity group awarded degrees at institutions was White students. These 91 degrees mean that there were 3.25 times more degrees awarded to White students then the next closest race/ethnicity group, Hispanic or Latino, with 28 degrees awarded.

Awarded Degrees over Time

The graph shows the evolution of awarded degrees by degrees. Under the paragraphs, the average number of awarded degrees by university in each degree is shown.

Tuition

Average Net Price by Sector

Private not-for-profit, 4-year or above ($29,600) is the sector with the highest median state tuition in 2021.

Private not-for-profit, 4-year or above ($3,400) is the sector with the highest median state fee in 2021.

Private not-for-profit, 4-year or above ($1,200) is the sector with the highest average net price of books and supplies.

The graph shows the average net price by sector and year.

Working Population

Educational Pyramid

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for Arizona.

Measure

In 2021, 0.969% of men over 25 years of age had not completed any academic degree (no schooling), while 1.03% of women were in the same situation.

This visualization shows the gender distribution of the population according to the academic level reached.

Educational Attainment

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for Arizona.

Race

The most common educational levels obtained by the working population in 2021 were Some college (1.42M), High School or Equivalent (1.37M), and Bachelors Degree (979k).

This visualization illustrates the percentage distribution of the population according to the highest educational level reached. You can filter the data by race by using the selector above.

Housing & Living

The median property value in Surprise, AZ was $282,300 in 2021, which is 1.15 times larger than the national average of $244,900. Between 2020 and 2021 the median property value increased from $258,700 to $282,300, a 9.12% increase. The homeownership rate in Surprise, AZ is 76.4%, which is approximately the same as the national average of 64.6%.

People in Surprise, AZ have an average commute time of 30 minutes, and they drove alone to work. Car ownership in Surprise, AZ is approximately the same as the national average, with an average of 2 cars per household.

Median household income in Surprise, AZ is $76,623. In 2021, the place with the highest median household income in Surprise, AZ was Census Tract 610.36 with a value of $120,246, followed by Census Tract 610.39 and Census Tract 610.37, with respective values of $118,819 and $105,088.

Housing

Property

$282,300

Median Property Value 2021

±$3,597

$39,887

Median Property Taxes

±$1,515

The following chart display owner-occupied housing units distributed between a series of property tax buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. In Surprise, AZ the largest share of households pay taxes in the $800 - $1,499 range.

The chart underneath the paragraph shows the property taxes in Surprise, AZ compared to it's parent and neighbor geographies.

Rent vs Own

76.4%

Homeownership

2021

70.2%

Homeowners with Mortgage

2021

In 2021, 76.4% of the housing units in Surprise, AZ were occupied by their owner. This percentage grew from the previous year's rate of 75.5%.

This chart shows the percentage of owner in Surprise, AZ compared it's parent and neighboring geographies.

Equity

Income by Location

Use the dropdown to filter by race/ethnicity.

Race/Ethnicity

Highest Median Household Income (Total)

Census Tract 610.36
Census Tract 610.39
Census Tract 610.37

In 2021, the place with the highest Median Household Income (Total) in Surprise, AZ was Census Tract 610.36 with a value of $120,246, followed by Census Tract 610.39 and Census Tract 610.37, with respective values of $118,819 and $105,088.

The following map shows all of the places in Surprise, AZ colored by their Median Household Income (Total).

Household Income

Please note that the buckets used in this visualization were not evenly distributed by ACS when publishing the data.

$76,623

Median Household Income

± $1,821

52.2k

Number of Households

± 1,859

In 2021, the median household income of the 52.2k households in Surprise, AZ grew to $76,623 from the previous year's value of $71,192.

The following chart displays the households in Surprise, AZ distributed between a series of income buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households have an income in the $75k - $100k range.

Wage Distribution

The closest comparable wage GINI for Surprise, AZ is from Arizona.

0.46

2021 Wage GINI in Arizona

0.462

2020 Wage GINI in Arizona

In 2021, the income inequality in Arizona was 0.46 according to the GINI calculation of the wage distribution. Income inequality had a 0.353% decline from 2020 to 2021, which means that wage distribution grew somewhat more even. The GINI for Arizona was lower than than the national average of 0.478. In other words, wages are distributed more evenly in Arizona in comparison to the national average.

This chart shows the number of workers in Arizona across various wage buckets compared to the national average.

Transportation

Commuter Transportation

Most Common Commute in 2021

Drove Alone (76.8%)
Worked At Home (11.6%)
Carpooled (8.96%)

In 2021, 76.8% of workers in Surprise, AZ drove alone to work, followed by those who worked at home (11.6%) and those who carpooled to work (8.96%).

The following chart shows the number of households using each mode of transportation over time, using a logarithmic scale on the y-axis to help better show variations in the smaller means of commuting.

Commute Time

30 minutes

Average Travel Time

Using averages, employees in Surprise, AZ have a longer commute time (30 minutes) than the normal US worker (26.8 minutes). Additionally, 2.56% of the workforce in Surprise, AZ have "super commutes" in excess of 90 minutes.

The chart below shows how the median household income in Surprise, AZ compares to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Car Ownership

2 cars

Average Number

The following chart displays the households in Surprise, AZ distributed between a series of car ownership buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households in Surprise, AZ have 2 cars.

Poverty

Poverty & Diversity

7.49% of the population for whom poverty status is determined in Surprise, AZ (10.6k out of 141k people) live below the poverty line, a number that is lower than the national average of 12.6%. The largest demographic living in poverty are Females 55 - 64, followed by Females 6 - 11 and then Females 75+.

The most common racial or ethnic group living below the poverty line in Surprise, AZ is White, followed by Hispanic and Other.

The Census Bureau uses a set of money income thresholds that vary by family size and composition to determine who classifies as impoverished. If a family's total income is less than the family's threshold than that family and every individual in it is considered to be living in poverty.

Social Needs

Data only available at the state level.

Most prevalent states

California
35,798 individuals
New York
5,087 individuals
Florida
4,915 individuals

In 2017, California had the highest estimated number of chronically homeless individuals in the nation, at 35,798. New York has the second highest (5,087), followed by Florida (4,915).

The following map shows the estimated number of chronically homeless individuals by state over multiple years.

Health

92.8% of the population of Surprise, AZ has health coverage, with 47.9% on employee plans, 10.5% on Medicaid, 17.3% on Medicare, 14% on non-group plans, and 3.07% on military or VA plans.

Primary care physicians in Maricopa County, AZ see 1419 patients per year on average, which represents a 2% decrease from the previous year (1448 patients). Compare this to dentists who see 1464 patients per year, and mental health providers who see 639 patients per year.

Coverage

Patient to Clinician Ratios

Data is only available at the country level. Showing data for Maricopa County, AZ.

1,419 to 1

Patient to Primary Care Physician Ratio in Maricopa County, AZ

Primary care physicians in Maricopa County, AZ see an average of 1,419 patients per year. This represents a 2% decrease from the previous year (1,448 patients).

The following chart shows how the number of patients seen by primary care physicians has been changing over time in Maricopa County, AZ in comparison to its neighboring geographies.

Health Care Diversity

In 2021, insured persons according to age ranges were distributed in 25.9% under 18 years, 15.9% between 18 and 34 years, 35.3% between 35 and 64 years, and 22.9% over 64 years.

By gender, of the total number of insured persons, 47.6% were men and 52.4% were women.

The following chart shows the number of people with health coverage by gender.

Uninsured People

7.18%

Uninsured

47.9%

Employer Coverage

10.5%

Medicaid

17.3%

Medicare

14%

Non-Group

3.07%

Military or VA

Between 2020 and 2021, the percent of uninsured citizens in Surprise, AZ declined by 9.18% from 7.91% to 7.18%.

The following chart shows how the percent of uninsured individuals in Surprise, AZ changed over time compared with the percent of individuals enrolled in various types of health insurance.