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Surprise, AZ
City in Maricopa County, Arizona. ZIP codes: 85361, 85374, 85378, 85379, 85387, 85388.
Population
154,948
Land area
110.5sq mi
People per sq mi
1,402
ZIP codes
6
Surprise and its ZIP codes
Surprise at a glance
- Surprise is about 22 times as dense as Arizona as a whole.
- By population, it ranks 10th among 441 cities and towns in Arizona.
- The median household income is $96,711, 21% above the Arizona median of $79,964.
- A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $435,100 (10% above Arizona) and median rent is $2,033 a month.
Local data for Surprise, AZ
Counts from official public data
Housing and community stats
Surprise, AZ, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Median household income
$96,711
Poverty rate
8.6%
Median home value
$435,100
Median rent
$2,033/mo
Homeownership
79.1%
Bachelor's or higher
30.5%
Median age
41.4
Average commute
30.2 min
Largest reported origins and ancestries: German Americans (24,823), Mexican Americans (23,779), Irish Americans (17,041).
Economy and federal money
Jobs, pay, income and spending are for Maricopa County. PPP loans are for Surprise.
Unemployment rate
4.8%
Aug 2026, +0.6 pts in a year
Average annual pay
$76,350
2,289,324 jobs, 2025
Income per person
$72,176
BEA, 2024
Federal spending
$56B
FY 2026, $12,669 per person
PPP loans
$103M
2,389 loans, 13,483 jobs reported
How people get to work
Surprise, AZ, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- Drove alone69.4%
- Carpooled8.5%
- Public transit0.1%
- Walked0.7%
- Bicycle0.2%
- Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other1.6%
- Worked from home19.5%
Average one-way commute: 30.2 minutes for people who do not work from home.
Environment and hazard risk
Surprise, AZ, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA
Natural hazard risk
Very High
Top: heat wave
Storm events since 1996
3,872
Countywide, mostly thunderstorm wind
Flood insurance policies
8,889
0.6% of homes, county
July high / Jan low
105° / 39°F
9.6 inches of rain a year
Health statistics
Share of adults in Surprise, AZ, CDC PLACES estimates
Obesity
29.4%
U.S. 33.3% -3.9 pts
Diabetes
11.2%
U.S. 12.1% -0.9 pts
Smoking
10.4%
U.S. 12.8% -2.4 pts
Uninsured (18-64)
10.5%
U.S. 11.1% -0.6 pts
ZIP codes in Surprise
6 in or overlapping Surprise. Population shown
Cities near Surprise
| Name | Distance | Land area (sq mi) |
|---|---|---|
| Sun City WestCensus-designated place | 4 mi | 11.9 |
| PeoriaCity | 5.2 mi | 176.7 |
| WittmannCensus-designated place | 8.2 mi | 1 |
| El MirageCity | 9.4 mi | 9.9 |
| Sun CityCensus-designated place | 9.6 mi | 14.4 |
| YoungtownTown | 10 mi | 1.5 |
| Citrus ParkCensus-designated place | 12 mi | 5 |
| Circle CityCensus-designated place | 12 mi | 0.3 |
| Litchfield ParkCity | 15 mi | 3.3 |
| GlendaleCity | 15 mi | 67.2 |
| MorristownCensus-designated place | 16 mi | 1 |
| TollesonCity | 20 mi | 5.7 |
| AnthemCensus-designated place | 20 mi | 7.9 |
| BuckeyeCity | 20 mi | 395.4 |
| PhoenixCity | 22 mi | 518.3 |
| New RiverCensus-designated place | 22 mi | 56.1 |
Frequently asked questions
- What county is Surprise, AZ in?
- Surprise is in Maricopa County, Arizona.
- What ZIP codes are in Surprise, AZ?
- ZIP codes in or overlapping Surprise include 85361, 85374, 85378, 85379, 85387, 85388.
- What is the population of Surprise, AZ?
- About 154,948 people live in Surprise, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
- What cities are near Surprise?
- Nearby places include Sun City West (4 mi), Peoria (5.2 mi), Wittmann (8.2 mi), El Mirage (9.4 mi), Sun City (9.6 mi).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023