El Centro, 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.
El Centro
70
#1141 nationally
Surprise
71
#1038 nationally
Surprise leads in crime level (3.0 vs 9.0). El Centro leads in walk score (51 vs 21). Surprise leads in median household income ($87,756 vs $54,922).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | El Centro, CA | Surprise, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 70 (#1141) | 71 (#1038) |
| Population | 43,772 | 158,285 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $396,150 | $419,342 |
| Median Household Income | $54,922 | $87,756 |
| Average Commute | 21.6 min | 30.5 min |
| Walk Score | 51 | 21 |
| Crime Level | 9.0 | 3.0 |
| School Rating | N/A | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 111 | 115 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | R+0.9 | R+3.5 |
C-
70 Score
El Centro, CA
Small California city with local appeal
Median Home
$396,150
Population
43,772
Crime
Moderate
Walk Score
51
Pacific
View El Centro, 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 →