Surprise, AZ vs Tacoma, WA
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.
Surprise
71
#1038 nationally
Tacoma
65.1
#1654 nationally
Tacoma leads in walk score (52 vs 21). Surprise leads in median household income ($87,756 vs $65,891). Tacoma leads in average commute (28.4 min vs 30.5 min).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Surprise, AZ | Tacoma, WA |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 71 (#1038) | 65.1 (#1654) |
| Population | 158,285 | 221,776 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $419,342 | $496,203 |
| Median Household Income | $87,756 | $65,891 |
| Average Commute | 30.5 min | 28.4 min |
| Walk Score | 21 | 52 |
| Crime Level | 3.0 | Moderate-High |
| School Rating | N/A | 5.4 |
| Cost of Living Index | 115 | 118 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | R+3.5 | D+10.8 |
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 →
D
65.1 Score
Tacoma, WA
City of Destiny reborn
Median Home
$496,203
Population
221,776
Crime
Moderate-High
Schools
C
West
View Tacoma, WA →