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Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI 2024 crime data, Surprise, AZ has a Safety Score of 75/100 — safer than 75% of US cities — with a total crime rate of 984.7 per 100,000 residents, ranking #747 of 2,971 US cities and #6 of 41 in Arizona.
Safety Score
Violent Crime Rate
Property Crime Rate
Is Surprise, Arizona Safe?
Surprise, Arizona, once a small farming community founded in 1938, is now a rapidly growing city in the Sonoran Desert. Located northwest of Phoenix, it's home to a significant population of retirees and families.
Surprise has a safety score of 75/100 (Safer Than Average). Based on FBI data for 2024, the city reported a total crime rate of 984.7 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,752.3 per 100,000.
Surprise ranks #6 out of 41 cities in Arizona and #747 out of 2971 nationally (safest first). This places it in the 75th percentile for safety — safer than 75% of US cities.
Year over year, Surprise's total crime rate decreased by 27.2%, with violent crime rising 6%.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Surprise Crime Statistics Breakdown (2024)
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 178 | 109.1 | 473.3 |
| Murder | 12 | 7.4 | 6.2 |
| Rape | 27 | 16.5 | 43.4 |
| Robbery | 18 | 11.0 | 93.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 121 | 74.1 | 330.0 |
| Property Crime | 1,429 | 875.6 | 2,279.1 |
| Burglary | 154 | 94.4 | 287.8 |
| Larceny-Theft | 1,113 | 682.0 | 1,638.9 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 162 | 99.3 | 352.4 |
| Arson | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Surprise vs Arizona Average
How does Surprise's crime rate compare to the Arizona state average?
| Metric | Surprise | Arizona Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime Rate | 109.1 | 468.3 | -76.7% |
| Property Crime Rate | 875.6 | 1,952.3 | -55.1% |
| Murder Rate | 7.4 | 4.9 | +51.5% |
| Total Crime Rate | 984.7 | 2,420.6 | -59.3% |
Surprise Crime Rate Trends
Year-over-year crime rate changes for Surprise, Arizona.
| Year | Coverage | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 163,202 | 984.7 | 109.1 | 875.6 |
| 2023 | 159,346 | 1,352.4 | 102.9 | 1,249.5 |
| 2022 | 154,128 | 1,522.8 | 119.4 | 1,403.4 |
| 2021 | 145,832 | 1,610.8 | 132.3 | 1,478.4 |
| 2020 | 144,620 | 1,533.7 | 145.2 | 1,388.5 |
| 2019 | 140,962 | 1,575.6 | 97.9 | 1,477.7 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Surprise, Arizona safe?
Surprise has a safety score of 75/100, meaning it has less crime than about 75% of US cities in our FBI dataset. With a total crime rate of 984.7 per 100,000 residents in 2024, Surprise is relatively safe.
What is the crime rate in Surprise, Arizona?
According to FBI data for 2024, Surprise has a violent crime rate of 109.1 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 875.6 per 100,000 residents.
How does Surprise compare to the national average?
Surprise's total crime rate of 984.7 per 100,000 can be compared to the national average. The data covers 163,202 residents.
What types of crime are most common in Surprise?
Based on FBI 2024 data, the most reported crimes in Surprise include larceny-theft, aggravated assault, and burglary. Property crime is generally more common than violent crime.
Is Surprise safe to visit?
Like any city, Surprise has areas that are safer than others. The city's overall safety score is 75/100 based on FBI crime data. Standard travel precautions are recommended.