It may not seem like it to some renters, but Surprise is one of the best places in the state where you get what you pay for.
A new survey by online site RentCafe shows that renters in Surprise get the second-largest housing units in the state for $1,500 in rent.
The study shows that renters in Surprise can expect to get 857 square feet of space for that money, putting the city behind only Tucson, where renters can get 896 square feet of space for the same money.
Peoria and Glendale are right behind Surprise on the list, making West Valley the most affordable place overall in the Phoenix metro area. The study found that West Valley residents can get 180 square feet more than East Valley residents. Additionally, renters in Surprise can get nearly 200 square feet more than in Scottsdale.
Mesa leads the East Valley with 800 square feet of housing for $1,500 a month. In Tempe and Scottsdale, renters get five times less housing for the same amount.
Overall, Arizona’s spaces are larger than the national average, with renters across the country getting 729 square feet of space for a monthly rent of $1,500.
But Surprise, which is considered a small town with fewer than 250,000 residents, is far from the country’s largest cities. In Columbus, Georgia, renters get 1,400 square feet for a monthly rent of $1,500.
However, Surprise is much larger than Sunnyvale in California’s Silicon Valley, where tenants only get 37 square meters for that money.
Among major U.S. cities, Wichita, Kansas, topped the list with 1,359 square feet for $1,500. Toledo, Ohio, came in second with 1,345 square feet.
At the other end of the list, New York City offers just 228 square feet, falling behind its nearby neighbor Brooklyn, where renters get an average of 300 square feet.
The study is based on estimates from the US Census Bureau and includes the 200 most populous cities on the American continent.
Jason Stone can be reached at [email protected]. We invite our readers to share their polite comments, for or against, on this issue. Send an email to [email protected].
Jason Stone
News Editor | Surprise
Former NAU lumberjack who enjoys going to concerts (or I did), watching sports (or I did), and hanging out with friends (oh, whatever). I also like backgammon, surfing, and men who aren’t afraid to cry.
