Photo: Gage Skidmore · CC BY-SA 3.0On CDC estimates, Surprise as a whole is healthier than 84% of U.S. towns
Surprise differs from Arizona on 15 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 13 better, 2 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Surprise. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Surprise
Surprise keeps up with checkups
It beats Arizona on four of five routine checkups and screenings, including dentist visits (64.7% vs 59.9%) and cholesterol checks (87.8% vs 85.1%). Checkups ↓
Cancer runs high in Surprise
1 in 9 adults have had cancer (11%), vs 8.8% across Arizona. Conditions ↓
Fewer Surprise adults struggle to make ends meet
Worries about food, housing, utility bills and getting around all run below Arizona. 1 in 8 adults worry about having enough food, vs 1 in 6 adults statewide. Everyday needs ↓
Written from the CDC, Medicare and HRSA data on this page. CDC PLACES 2025 release: modeled estimates for adults, not counts; “higher” and “lower” mean the Arizona figure falls outside Surprise’s likely range.
What’s behind Surprise’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Surprise is healthier than 84% of U.S. towns, #29 of 140 in Arizona. All seven estimates beat the typical U.S. town. The strongest is mental distress (fewer adults with frequent mental distress than 88% of towns); the weakest is diabetes, still better than 63%.
Health estimates follow income closely across the country: towns with higher household incomes usually score higher (a correlation of 0.77 across 21,157 graded towns). Surprise’s median household income is $96,711; among the 9,066 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($73K–$121K), it’s healthier than 84%, about where its income would put it.
At 175,304 residents, Surprise is graded like any town, from one citywide estimate; its rank among the 395 U.S. cities over 100,000 is the fairer comparison.
Keeping up with care
Share of Surprise adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Arizona.
Out of every 100 Surprise adults…
Surprise runs below AZ on 1 of 12 conditions and above it on 2. Tap one to see it as people.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
8.6% of Surprise adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 11.1% across Arizona.
Care in and near Surprise
1 community health center in Surprise, plus the nearest just outside it.
Hospitals: Medicare overall star ratings, 1–5. Community health centers charge on a sliding scale by income. Distances are straight-line from the center of Surprise; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas (a “population” designation covers specific residents, such as those with low incomes).
Everyday habits, side by side with Arizona
Share of adults, with the Arizona figure marked.
70 miles of trails across 54 parks and preserves
How Surprise adults are doing
About the same as Arizona on each measure.
1 in 3 Surprise adults feel lonely. A hello is a start.
Groups are the easiest way in: a walking group, a book club, your street.
If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. It’s free, confidential and open 24/7.
Surprise and the towns around it
Surprise’s Health Grade ranks 2nd of 7 graded towns around it.
Nearby towns are shaded from CDC’s estimates for their ZIP codes, or CDC’s own figure for cities and villages.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Surprise | A− | 29.4% | 11.2% | 10.4% | CDC place |
| Sun City West | B+ | 24.7% | 16.7% | 6.9% | CDC place |
| Sun City | B− | 28.1% | 18.8% | 9.6% | CDC place |
| El Mirage | B | 33.8% | 11% | 13.3% | CDC place |
| Peoria | A | 29.5% | 10.5% | 10.6% | CDC place |
| Wittmann | — | — | — | — | |
| Buckeye | B+ | 32.7% | 10.7% | 12.8% | CDC place |
| Glendale | B | 32.9% | 11.7% | 13.2% | CDC place |
Wittmann: fewer than 1,000 residents. Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Surprise adults live with a disability (Arizona 31.5%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Surprise
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Surprise is better than Arizona on 13 and worse on 2; on the rest, the Arizona figure falls inside Surprise’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Surprise | AZ | U.S. | vs AZ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 17.2%15.8–18.7 | 19.5% | 19.4% | Better |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 12.1%11–13.2 | 13% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 14.2%13–15.5 | 15.4% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 29.4%26.1–32.9 | 31.3% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 11.2%10.1–12.3 | 11.3% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 34.4%32.2–36.6 | 32.8% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 39.5%37–42 | 37.3% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 28%26.1–30 | 25.2% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 10.2%9.3–11.2 | 10.4% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 11%10.2–11.8 | 8.8% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 6.9%6.3–7.5 | 6.4% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 6.5%5.9–7.2 | 6.6% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 3.6%3.3–3.8 | 3.4% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 9.9%8.3–11.6 | 14.7% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 10.4%9.3–11.6 | 11.4% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 19.7%17.7–21.8 | 21.9% | 24.7% | Better |
| Binge drinking | 14.9%13.2–16.6 | 15.3% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 33.4%30.2–36.8 | 35.2% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 10.5%9.4–11.7 | 13.2% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 76.1%73.8–78.3 | 73.9% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 64.7%62.2–67.3 | 59.9% | 63.2% | Better |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 87.8%86.5–88.9 | 85.1% | 87.1% | Better |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 76.9%74.8–78.9 | 73.9% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 65.2%62.1–68.3 | 60.2% | 65.5% | Better |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 77.4%73.1–81.5 | 72.7% | 76.4% | Better |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 18.7%16.8–20.7 | 19.5% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 30.9%28.5–33.4 | 32% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 24%22–26.2 | 25.7% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 12.2%11.1–13.6 | 15.8% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 9.3%8.4–10.4 | 12% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 5.4%4.8–6.1 | 7.2% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 6.9%6.3–7.7 | 8.7% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 8.6%7.6–9.7 | 11.1% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 30.2%27.9–32.5 | 31.5% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 13.8%12.5–15 | 13.8% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 12.6%11.5–13.8 | 14.2% | 13.9% | Lower |
| Hearing difficulty | 8.6%7.9–9.4 | 8.1% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 4.7%4.3–5.1 | 5.5% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 7%6.3–7.6 | 7.6% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.4%3.1–3.6 | 3.7% | 3.8% | Lower |
Each figure is the share of adults 18+ unless the label says otherwise; small numbers after it are CDC’s likely range (95% interval). “About the same” means the Arizona figure falls inside that range.
Questions about health in Surprise
Is Surprise a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Surprise is healthier than 84% of U.S. towns: A− for health, #29 of 140 in Arizona. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 84%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Surprise?
CDC estimates 29.4% of adults have obesity, likely between 26.1% and 32.9%, against 31.3% across Arizona and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Surprise?
Banner Del E. Webb Medical Center in Sun City West, 4.7 miles in a straight line from Surprise’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Surprise have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 10.5% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 9.4–11.7%), against 13.2% across Arizona.
How accurate are these numbers?
They’re modeled estimates: CDC applies national survey answers to each area’s age, sex, race and education mix, so they describe who lives in Surprise more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B+ to A.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Surprise.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The Arizona figure combines its counties, weighted by adult population. Hospitals and star ratings: Medicare Care Compare (CMS). Health centers and shortage areas: HRSA. The Health Grade is our own summary of CDC’s estimates, not an official rating. Ages: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey. Town boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau. This page isn’t medical advice. In an emergency, call 911.