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Quality of Life in Sunrise, FL
A high quality of life with strong walkability, manageable living costs, healthy neighborhood signals, and solid amenity access.
What does Quality of Life tell us?
Quality of Life blends cost of living, nearby amenities, socioeconomic signals, and neighborhood character. City-level scores represent the whole municipality; individual neighborhoods can differ.
What does this tell us?
Quality of Life blends cost of living, nearby amenities, socioeconomic signals, and neighborhood character. City-level scores represent the whole municipality; individual neighborhoods can differ.
Cost of Living
50% above national average
The Real Cost of Living in Sunrise, FL for 2026
| Tier | Individual | Family (4) |
|---|---|---|
| Survival | $27k | $51k |
| Comfortable | $64k | $94k |
| Luxury | $112k+ | $174k+ |
| Elite (Top 5%) | $132k+ | $205k+ |
77%
The Area Signal
A metric tracking the socioeconomic signals of the area.
Hobbies
Explore the areaGroceries
2 within 10 miles
Gas
0 within 10 miles
Hospital
3 within 20 miles
Airport
FLL — Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International
Post Office
USPS — Plantation, FL
Critical Amenities
Quality-of-Life Analysis
Sunrise, Florida, presents a distinctly affluent quality of life, with a cost of living index of 150—50% above the national average—that attracts a demographic of established professionals, dual-income families, and retirees seeking suburban comfort near urban amenities. The city’s population of roughly 97,000 is notably diverse, with a strong mix of Hispanic, Caribbean, and South American communities, creating a culturally rich environment that balances residential stability with proximity to Fort Lauderdale and Miami. This is not a transient beach town but a settled, family-oriented suburb where the median age hovers around 40, reflecting a mature, homeowning populace.
Cost of living, housing, and affordability compared to nearby cities
Sunrise’s housing market is the primary driver of its elevated cost of living, with a median home value of $328,700 and median rent of $1,999—both significantly higher than the national medians of roughly $350,000 and $1,200, respectively, but notably lower than neighboring Fort Lauderdale (median home value ~$450,000) and Miami (~$500,000). This pricing positions Sunrise as a relative value within Broward County, offering more square footage and newer construction for the dollar compared to coastal cities. However, the affordability gap is narrowing: home values in Sunrise have risen 12% year-over-year as of early 2026, outpacing wage growth in the region. Renters face a tight market, with vacancy rates below 4%, pushing average rents above $2,000 for two-bedroom units. The average commute of 28 minutes—shorter than the Broward County average of 32 minutes—is a practical advantage, as most residents work in Sunrise’s own Sawgrass International Corporate Park or commute to Fort Lauderdale’s downtown. Property taxes in Sunrise run about 1.8% of assessed value, slightly above the state average, but no state income tax offsets some of the housing burden.
Amenities, schools, and daily-life rhythm for families and professionals
Daily life in Sunrise revolves around its robust amenity network, anchored by the 1,000-acre Sawgrass Nature Center and the massive Sawgrass Mills mall, one of the largest retail and entertainment complexes in the U.S. The city’s parks system includes 30+ parks, with the 80-acre Sunrise Sports Complex hosting youth leagues and the 18-hole Sunrise Golf Club. Broward County Public Schools serve the area, with Sunrise’s own Piper High School and Bair Middle School both rated B+ by Niche, while private options like the American Heritage School (a top-10 national private school) draw families from across the region. The daily rhythm is car-dependent but efficient: most errands cluster along the Sunrise Boulevard and University Drive corridors, with Publix and Walmart Neighborhood Market dominating grocery options. For professionals, the Sawgrass International Corporate Park—home to American Express, Citrix, and GEICO—employs over 15,000 people, creating a live-work dynamic that reduces the need for long commutes. Evening and weekend life leans toward casual dining chains (e.g., The Cheesecake Factory, Bahama Breeze) and the 24-screen Regal Cinemas, with nightlife limited to a few sports bars and the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino 10 minutes away in Hollywood.
Sunrise is best suited for middle-to-upper-income families and professionals who prioritize suburban space, good schools, and retail convenience over walkability or nightlife. The city’s crime rate is 25% below the Florida average, with property crime trending downward since 2020, making it a safe choice for raising children. Retirees on fixed incomes may find the cost of living challenging, but dual-income households earning $80,000+ will find the trade-off of higher housing costs for shorter commutes and strong amenities worthwhile. Those seeking a culturally diverse, car-oriented suburb with direct access to both the Everglades and the Atlantic coast will find Sunrise a pragmatic, comfortable fit.
Crime in Sunrise, FL
Generally safer than 73% of comparable U.S. locations.
Violent CrimeViolent Crime Analysis
Property CrimeProperty Crime Analysis
Crime Analysis
Sunrise, Florida, reports a violent crime rate of 166.8 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 735.6 per 100,000, placing it below the national average for violent offenses but slightly above the national property crime benchmark. However, these figures must be weighed against the broader context of Broward County, where progressive prosecutorial policies and judicial leniency have been linked to higher recidivism and reduced public confidence in the justice system. For prospective residents, the raw numbers tell only part of the story; the local legal environment significantly shapes day-to-day safety.
Crime in context
Sunrise’s violent crime rate is roughly 55% lower than the national average of 380 per 100,000, while its property crime rate sits about 15% above the national average of 640 per 100,000. Compared to other Broward County cities of similar size—such as Plantation (violent crime 210 per 100K) or Tamarac (violent crime 190 per 100K)—Sunrise fares moderately well on violent offenses. Yet the county’s overall crime picture is shaped by a district attorney’s office that has prioritized diversion programs and reduced sentencing for non-violent property offenders. This approach, while intended to reduce incarceration, has been criticized for contributing to a 12% rise in property crime across Broward since 2021, as repeat offenders face minimal consequences. State-level data from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement confirms that Broward’s property crime clearance rate (the share of cases solved) lags behind the state average by 8 percentage points.
What residents experience
In practice, Sunrise residents report property crime—especially vehicle break-ins, package theft, and burglary from unlocked garages—as the most common safety concern. The city’s police department has responded with targeted patrols in commercial corridors like West Sunrise Boulevard and the Sawgrass Mills area, but progressive bail reform policies in Broward County courts mean many property crime suspects are released within hours of arrest. This creates a revolving-door effect that frustrates both law enforcement and victims. Violent crime, while rare, is concentrated in a handful of apartment complexes near State Road 84 and Northwest 44th Street, where gang-related disputes occasionally escalate. For families and retirees, the primary risk is not random violence but the cumulative nuisance and financial loss from unchecked property crime.
Neighborhood-level variation is significant. Gated communities west of Nob Hill Road, such as those in the Sunrise Lakes area, report property crime rates roughly 30% lower than the city average, thanks to private security and restricted access. In contrast, older rental neighborhoods east of University Drive experience higher rates of vehicle theft and burglary. Prospective renters should verify a specific address’s crime history through the Sunrise Police Department’s online mapping tool, as block-by-block differences can be stark. Overall, Sunrise offers a relatively safe environment for those who take standard precautions—locking vehicles, using outdoor lighting, and avoiding high-crime pockets—but the county’s lenient judicial climate remains a persistent underlying concern for long-term safety.
* Values derived from national, state, county, city and local statistics and may differ in a specific area. Last updated: 2026-04-19T06:56:41.000Z
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