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C

Is Surprise, Arizona Safe?

Population 175,304 · Safer than 32% of US cities

Declining· 2023 FBI UCR data

Surprise earns a C safety grade with 222.7 crimes per 1,000 residents. Violent crime runs below the national average, putting the city behind 68% of US cities. Property crime makes up the majority of offenses, with theft at 1,209 per 100K.

Surprise Crime Rates vs State and National Averages

MetricSurpriseArizona AvgNational Avg
Violent Crime Rate262.0326.7363.8
Property Crime Rate1964.92049.51,832.3
Murder Rate5.0--5.7
Assault Rate207.0--268.2
Theft Rate1209.0--1,401.5
Vehicle Theft Rate186.0--318.3

All rates per 100,000 residents. 2024 FBI Uniform Crime Report + Census Bureau population estimates.

Overall SafetyC

222.7 crimes per 1,000 residents

Violent CrimeC+

262/100K (national avg: 364)

Property CrimeC-

1965/100K (national avg: 1,832)

Key Crime Statistics for Surprise

Violent crime in Surprise is below the national average. The rate of 262.0 per 100K falls below the national 363.8.

Property crime is close to the national average at 1964.9 per 100K vs. the national 1,832.3.

Theft is the most reported crime at 1,209 per 100K. The national average is 1,401.5.

Surprise Crime Breakdown by Category

Murder5
088% of avgAvg: 5.7
Assault207
077% of avgAvg: 268.2
Robbery44
070% of avgAvg: 63.3
Burglary314
01.2x national avgAvg: 269.8
Theft1,209
086% of avgAvg: 1,401.5
Vehicle Theft186
058% of avgAvg: 318.3

Rates per 100,000 residents. Vertical marker = national average.

How Surprise Compares

Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)

Surprise
262.0
State
326.7
National
363.8

Property Crime Rate (per 100K)

Surprise
1964.9
State
2049.5
National
1832.3

Rates per 100,000 residents. National averages from 2023 FBI UCR data.

Frequently Asked Questions About Surprise Safety

Is Surprise safe?
Not especially. Surprise earns a C with a crime rate of 222.7 per 1,000 residents, and violent crime runs below the national average. Standard precautions apply, especially at night.
What is the crime rate in Surprise?
222.7 per 1,000 residents. That breaks down to a violent crime rate of 262.0 per 100,000 (the national average is 363.8) and property crime at 1964.9 per 100,000 (national average: 1832.3).
Is Surprise safe for tourists?
Exercise extra caution. Surprise's C grade reflects real risk, particularly for property crime. Theft (1,209 per 100K) is the biggest concern for visitors. Stay in well-lit, busy areas at night.
What are the safest neighborhoods in Surprise?
Neighborhood-level data varies, but suburban residential areas in Surprise generally report lower crime than downtown or commercial districts. For block-level detail, check the Surprise police department's crime map.
Is crime increasing in Surprise?
Yes, there's been an uptick. Surprise's crime rates have moved in the wrong direction recently, though the city still holds a C grade overall.
How does Surprise compare to other cities in Arizona?
Below average for the state. Surprise ranks behind about 61% of Arizona cities on safety, with property crime being the bigger issue at 1.1x the national rate.
How safe is Surprise to live in?
Worth factoring into your decision. Violent crime is below the national average, which is encouraging. The upward trend in crime is concerning.
How bad is crime in Surprise?
Bad. A C grade and 222.7 per-thousand rate put Surprise below 68% of US cities. Violent crime at 262 per 100K is the core problem.
What is the violent crime rate in Surprise?
262.0 per 100,000, which is 28% below the national average of 363.8. That includes assault (207), robbery (44), and murder (5.0) per 100,000.

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View all Arizona city safety grades

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2024 FBI Uniform Crime Report data and Census Bureau population estimates. Safety grades calculated using national and state-level crime rate distributions. Not a substitute for local law enforcement guidance.

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