Is Surprise or Tucson Safer?
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of 2024 FBI data, Surprise is safer than Tucson (Safety Score 75/100 vs 9/100), with a total crime rate of 985 per 100,000 versus 3,903 for Tucson — 75% lower. Surprise has lower rates in 6 of 7 crime categories.
The biggest difference is in robbery, where Surprise has a 90% lower rate.
Note: Tucson is 3.4x larger by coverage, which can affect crime rate comparisons. Larger cities tend to report higher rates due to density and more comprehensive reporting.
Surprise — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Tucson — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Surprise, AZ
Tucson, AZ
Detailed Crime Rate Comparison
| Crime Type | Surprise | Tucson | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crime Rate | 984.7 | 3,902.8 | -2,918.1 |
| Violent Crime Rate | 109.1 | 589.7 | -480.6 |
| Murder Rate | 7.4 | 6.7 | +0.6 |
| Rape Rate | 16.5 | 47.7 | -31.2 |
| Robbery Rate | 11.0 | 108.1 | -97.0 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate | 74.1 | 426.2 | -352.1 |
| Property Crime Rate | 875.6 | 3,313.1 | -2,437.5 |
| Burglary Rate | 94.4 | 296.8 | -202.5 |
| Larceny-Theft Rate | 682.0 | 2,500.6 | -1,818.6 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate | 99.3 | 515.7 | -416.4 |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Surprise or Tucson safer?
Surprise is safer with a total crime rate of 985 per 100K vs 3,903 for Tucson — a 75% difference.
How do violent crime rates compare?
Surprise has a violent crime rate of 109.1 per 100K while Tucson has 589.7. Surprise has lower violent crime.
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.
About Tucson, AZ
Tucson, a Sonoran Desert city in southern Arizona, is known for its vibrant Mexican-American heritage and the University of Arizona. Over half a million people reside here, nestled among five mountain ranges. With a safety score of 9/100 and a population coverage of 548,789, Tucson has a total crime rate of 3,902.8 per 100,000 residents.