City comparison
Yes. Atlanta's crime index is 197 versus 212 in Aurora, and its violent crime index is 193 versus 248, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Atlanta is cheaper. Median rent is $1,711 a month versus $1,835 in Aurora.
Atlanta and Aurora are closer on paper than many city pairs, so the move comes down to how you weight cost, safety, and climate. Typical rent sits near $1,711 in Atlanta and $1,835 in Aurora, and median household income lands at $85,652 versus $88,368. Use the category rows below to see which gaps would change your daily life.
This is a genuine split. Atlanta wins on cost of living and safety and Aurora wins on the job market. Which matters more depends entirely on how you live: remote workers and families weight these categories differently than commuters or single professionals.
Visit both if you can. Cities reveal themselves in the ordinary moments, a Tuesday morning commute, a Saturday errand run, not on a weekend visit.
The move
Atlanta and Aurora are 1,202 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,711 a month in Atlanta to $1,835 a month in Aurora, up $124 a month (7%).
Median household income goes from $85,652 in Atlanta to $88,368 in Aurora, up $2,716 (3%).
The crime index goes from 197 in Atlanta to 212 in Aurora, up 15 points (8%).
The move
Aurora and Atlanta are 1,202 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,835 a month in Aurora to $1,711 a month in Atlanta, down $124 a month (7%).
Median household income goes from $88,368 in Aurora to $85,652 in Atlanta, down $2,716 (3%).
The crime index goes from 212 in Aurora to 197 in Atlanta, down 15 points (7%).
Atlanta, GA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Aurora, CO
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Atlanta and Aurora? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
7% cheaper
Atlanta rent is 7% cheaper than Aurora
Atlanta
Winner$1,711/mo
Aurora
$1,835/mo
Typical rent runs $1,711 a month in Atlanta versus $1,835 in Aurora, so Atlanta is 7% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $124, or $1,488 a year: noticeable, but rent alone should not pick the city. Use this as a tie-breaker after you compare income, schools, and crime, unless you are already stretching every dollar.
Planning to buy in Atlanta? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
3% higher
Aurora's median income is 3% higher than Atlanta
Atlanta
$85,652
Aurora
Winner$88,368
Median household income is $88,368 in Aurora versus $85,652 in Atlanta, so typical pay runs 3% higher in Aurora (about $2,716 more household income a year). The income edge is modest. Treat it as extra negotiating context, not a reason to ignore rent, schools, or climate. Remote workers especially should not treat citywide pay as a personal raise if their employer will not localize salary.
Crime index
7% lower crime
Atlanta's crime index is 7% lower than Aurora
Atlanta
Winner197 (100 = avg)
Aurora
212 (100 = avg)
Atlanta's crime index is 197 versus 212 in Aurora (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 7% lower in Atlanta. The difference is noticeable without being night-and-day. You will still want to pick the neighborhood carefully in Atlanta, but you will usually spend less energy on constant vigilance than you would in Aurora. Tour both cities after dark before you let a modest index gap close the decision.
Typical weather
Neck and neck
Atlanta and Aurora are about even on typical weather.
Atlanta
61°F avg · 70°F highs · comfort 89/100
Aurora
61°F avg · 71°F highs · comfort 89/100
Atlanta averages about 61°F (70°F highs); Aurora averages about 61°F (71°F highs). Atlanta averages around 61°F. Aurora averages around 61°F. On daily comfort these two are close enough that the better fit is whichever season you already know you can live with.
Fit check
Families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy
Atlanta is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 7% cheaper here at about $1,711 a month. Choose Atlanta if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Atlanta is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 7% lower than Aurora (197 vs a 100 national average). That gap shows up in how freely you walk at night and how much attention you spend on the car and the deadbolt.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Aurora is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 3% higher here ($88,368). Start with Aurora if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Bottom line
Housing separates these metros first: $1,711/month in Atlanta versus $1,835 in Aurora. Median income reads $85,652 in Atlanta and $88,368 in Aurora, which matters when you stack rent against take-home pay.
Atlanta rent at $1,711/month is still below Aurora's $1,835, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Median income is $88,368 in Aurora versus $85,652 in Atlanta.
Atlanta clears the bar on housing cost in this dataset. Aurora deserves a serious look only when your $88,368 income offer in Aurora outweighs saving $124/month in Atlanta.
With rent only $124 apart, neither city wins on housing alone — let income ($85,652 vs $88,368) and safety (39/100 vs 37/100) break the tie.
Common questions
Ready to move to Atlanta?
Next steps
Quotes and listings for Atlanta when you're ready to act.
Keep researching
Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Atlanta and Aurora, plus other cities in GA and CO.
