Study: Rental unit sizes big in Surprise

1: Tucson (896)

2: SURPRISE (857)

3: Peoria (849)

4: Glendale (834)

5: Mesa (833)

6: Gilbert (802)

7: Chandler (802)

8: Phoenix (793)

9: Tempe (691)

10: Scottsdale (675)

* Square footage based on $1,500 rent for apartments, according to RentCafe

It may not seem like it to some renters, but Surprise is one of the best places in the state to get what you pay for.

A new survey from online site RentCafe shows that Surprise renters secure the second-biggest apartment units in the state for a $1,500 rent.

The study shows Surprise renters can expect 857 square feet of space for that money, putting it behind only Tucson, which has renters getting 896 square feet of space for the same money.

Peoria and Glendale are right behind Surprise on the list, making the West Valley overall the most value spot in the Phoenix metro area. The study found West Valley residents can get 180 square feet more than those in the East Valley. Plus, renters in Surprise can get almost 200 more square feet than those in Scottsdale.

Mesa leads the East Valley with 833 square feet of room within $1,500 a month. Tempe and Scottsdale renters receive five times less apartment space for the same amount.

Overall, Arizona’s sizes are bigger than the national average. Renters nationwide get 729 square feet of space for a monthly rent of $1,500.

But Surprise, which is rated as a small city with less than 250,000 residents, is far off from the top sizes in the nation. Columbus, Georgia, renters receive 1,432 square feet for a monthly rent of $1,500.

However, Surprise is much bigger than Silicon Valley’s Sunnyvale, California, where renters secure only 406 square feet for that money.

Among U.S. big cities, Wichita, Kansas, offers as much as 1,359 square feet of space for $1,500 to top the list. Toledo, Ohio, finished second by offering 1,345 square feet.

On the other end of the list, New York City offers only 228 square feet, finishing below nearby neighbor Brooklyn, where renters get an average of 300 square feet

Based on the U.S. Census Bureau estimates, the study featured the 200 largest cities in the continental U.S. by population.

Jason Stone can be reached at jstone@iniusa.org. We’d like to invite our readers to submit their civil comments, pro or con, on this issue. Email AZOpinions@iniusa.org.

Jason Stone

Former NAU Lumberjack who loves going to concerts (or I did), watching sports (or I did) and hanging out with friends (oh, never mind). I also enjoy backgammon, surfing and men who are not afraid to cry.