Palmdale, CA vs Surprise, AZ
Side-by-side comparison of housing, income, commute, safety, and quality of life.
Score Snapshot
No universal winner
Scores summarize the published model. Use the objective metric differences below and your own priorities to choose.
Palmdale
58
#1956 nationally
Surprise
71
#1038 nationally
Surprise leads in crime level (3.0 vs 15.1). Surprise leads in average commute (30.5 min vs 41.3 min). Palmdale leads in walk score (24 vs 21).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Palmdale, CA | Surprise, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 58 (#1956) | 71 (#1038) |
| Population | 161,404 | 158,285 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $503,499 | $419,342 |
| Median Household Income | $78,414 | $87,756 |
| Average Commute | 41.3 min | 30.5 min |
| Walk Score | 24 | 21 |
| Crime Level | 15.1 | 3.0 |
| School Rating | N/A | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 130 | 115 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+32.9 | R+3.5 |
F
58 Score
Palmdale, CA
Mid-size California city with community character
Median Home
$503,499
Population
161,404
Crime
High
Walk Score
24
Pacific
View Palmdale, CA →
C-
71 Score
Surprise, AZ
Mid-size Arizona city with community character
Median Home
$419,342
Population
158,285
Crime
Low
Walk Score
21
Southwest
View Surprise, AZ →