Moving from Mesa, AZ to Surprise, AZ?
The Moving Checklist Planner turns your move-in date into a dated checklist, packing inventory and budget — seven tabs for Google Sheets or Excel, $12 once.
Is Mesa or Surprise Safer?
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI data, Surprise is safer than Mesa (Safety Score 75/100 vs 42/100), with a total crime rate of 985 per 100,000 versus 1,948 for Mesa — 49% lower. Mesa has higher rates in 1 of 7 crime categories.
The biggest difference is in robbery, where Surprise has a 78% lower rate.
Note: Mesa is 3.1x larger by coverage, which can affect crime rate comparisons. Larger cities tend to report higher rates due to density and more comprehensive reporting.
Quiz: which of these is MORE DANGEROUS than Mesa, AZ?
Mesa — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Surprise — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Mesa, AZ
Surprise, AZ
Detailed Crime Rate Comparison
| Crime Type | Mesa | Surprise | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crime Rate | 1,947.9 | 984.7 | +963.2 |
| Violent Crime Rate | 483.3 | 109.1 | +374.2 |
| Murder Rate | 2.7 | 7.4 | -4.6 |
| Rape Rate | 44.2 | 16.5 | +27.7 |
| Robbery Rate | 50.2 | 11.0 | +39.2 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate | 385.5 | 74.1 | +311.4 |
| Property Crime Rate | 1,464.6 | 875.6 | +589.0 |
| Burglary Rate | 187.7 | 94.4 | +93.3 |
| Larceny-Theft Rate | 1,078.5 | 682.0 | +396.5 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate | 198.4 | 99.3 | +99.2 |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR.
Moving from Mesa, AZ to Surprise, AZ?
The Moving Checklist Planner turns your move-in date into a dated checklist, packing inventory and budget — seven tabs for Google Sheets or Excel, $12 once.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Mesa or Surprise safer?
Surprise is safer with a total crime rate of 985 per 100K vs 1,948 for Mesa — a 49% difference.
How do violent crime rates compare?
Mesa has a violent crime rate of 483.3 per 100K while Surprise has 109.1. Surprise has lower violent crime.
About Mesa, AZ
Mesa, Arizona, a sprawling Sonoran Desert city, is home to a significant proportion of the state's Mormon population, reflecting its early agricultural settlements. It's the most populous city in the East Valley, bordering Tempe to the west. With a safety score of 42/100 and a population coverage of 513,585, Mesa has a total crime rate of 1,947.9 per 100,000 residents.
About Surprise, AZ
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. With a safety score of 75/100 and a population coverage of 163,202, Surprise has a total crime rate of 984.7 per 100,000 residents.