What it's like to live in Sunrise
Sunrise is a smaller city in Florida with crime rates well below the national average. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Sunrise deals with rent well above the national average, commute times longer than most cities, larger class sizes than the national average, and a rent burden that leaves many renters stretched thin.
The good
- Low crime rates
The not so good
- Rent well above the national average
- Above-average commute times
- High student-teacher ratio
- High rent burden for renters
- Very rainy — 69" of rain per year
- Car-dependent — few commuters use transit
How Sunrise compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Sunrise
Based on Sunrise's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$4,280
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $85,600 a year
- 65% of Sunrise renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$70,900
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $35,450
- Homes cost 4.6× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▲ 51% above US
$2,140/mo median rent
Rent is expensive here, at $2,140 a month median and well above the national average. This is the kind of city where housing costs deserve serious budgeting before committing to a move. Home prices run above average, with a median around $354,500. Buyers should expect to stretch their budget here.
Median home value $354,500 · 65% of renters cost-burdened
Job market▼ 12% below US
3.8% unemployment
Unemployment here is 3.8%, close to the national average of 4.3%.
City-level (BLS)
Safety▼ 49% below US
202 violent crimes per 100k
Pretty safe, all things considered. Violent crime sits below the national average, nothing alarming, just ordinary city-life awareness.
Property crime 1375/100k · Sunrise Police Department · 2020 data
Getting around▲ 14% above US
30 min average commute
Commutes run about average, at 29.6 minutes. Fine day to day, but it adds up over a year, and where someone lives relative to where they work starts to matter. 8 in 10 workers drive to work; 13% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are hot and humid, with highs regularly hitting 90°F, and winters are mild, with lows rarely dropping below 60°F. It's a wet climate overall.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Education & workforceNear US average
34% bachelor's degree or higher
Education levels run about average, with 34% college-educated. It's a mix of white-collar and blue-collar work, which can be an asset or a limitation depending on the field.
Schools
13 public schools inside the boundary
There are 13 public schools inside the boundary and 5 private schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 19:1, slightly above the national average of 16:1.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Biscayne National Park (46 miles away). There are 3 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Sunrise's strongest point is crime rates well below the national average; the main tradeoffs are rent well above the national average and commute times longer than most cities. A year of median rent ($2,140/mo) equals 33% of the median household income here, more than the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit anyone prioritizing low crime. It may be a harder fit for renters on a tight budget and anyone who doesn't drive.
Other places near Sunrise
All Florida guides →Not sure Sunrise is the one?
Put it side by side with another city.