City comparison
No. Anaheim's crime index is 143 versus 212 in Aurora, and its violent crime index is 165 versus 248, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Aurora is cheaper. Median rent is $1,835 a month versus $2,175 in Anaheim.
Safety is where Aurora and Anaheim split most clearly. Anaheim scores 69 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,835 in Aurora and $2,175 in Anaheim.
Anaheim is not a close call here. It leads on the job market, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Aurora makes sense if you have a specific reason, a job offer, family, or a neighborhood you already know, but on the numbers alone Anaheim is the stronger move.
The rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. Aurora at $1,835 average has pockets that run $1,635 and others at $2,235: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Aurora and Anaheim are 829 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,835 a month in Aurora to $2,175 a month in Anaheim, up $340 a month (19%).
Median household income goes from $88,368 in Aurora to $95,227 in Anaheim, up $6,859 (8%).
The crime index goes from 212 in Aurora to 143 in Anaheim, down 69 points (33%).
The move
Anaheim and Aurora are 829 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $2,175 a month in Anaheim to $1,835 a month in Aurora, down $340 a month (16%).
Median household income goes from $95,227 in Anaheim to $88,368 in Aurora, down $6,859 (7%).
The crime index goes from 143 in Anaheim to 212 in Aurora, up 69 points (48%).
Aurora, CO
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Anaheim, CA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Aurora and Anaheim? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
16% cheaper
Aurora rent is 16% cheaper than Anaheim
Aurora
Winner$1,835/mo
Anaheim
$2,175/mo
Typical rent runs $1,835 a month in Aurora versus $2,175 in Anaheim, so Aurora is 16% cheaper. A meaningful but not dramatic gap. Factor it into your budget alongside salary differences between the two markets. Over a year the spread is about $4,080, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Aurora still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Anaheim.
Planning to buy in Anaheim? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
8% higher
Anaheim's median income is 8% higher than Aurora
Aurora
$88,368
Anaheim
Winner$95,227
Median household income is $95,227 in Anaheim versus $88,368 in Aurora, so typical pay runs 8% higher in Anaheim (about $6,859 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
33% lower crime
Anaheim's crime index is 33% lower than Aurora
Aurora
212 (100 = avg)
Anaheim
Winner143 (100 = avg)
Anaheim's crime index is 143 versus 212 in Aurora (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 33% lower in Anaheim. That gap is meaningful day-to-day. It affects whether you feel comfortable walking at night, leaving your car on the street, or letting kids play outside unsupervised. Indexes still compress a lot of reality: a calmer city has blocks you would skip, and a higher-crime city has streets that feel neighborly at 10 p.m. On the everyday test of walking from the car to the door, Anaheim is the easier city. Aurora can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
12% more comfortable
Anaheim weather is 12% more comfortable than Aurora
Aurora
61°F avg · 71°F highs · comfort 89/100
Anaheim
Winner76°F avg · 83°F highs · comfort 100/100
Aurora averages about 61°F (71°F highs); Anaheim averages about 76°F (83°F highs). Aurora averages around 61°F. Anaheim sits near 76°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Anaheim scores 12% closer to the 65-80°F comfort band on this page, so it is the easier default for year-round outdoor errands and evenings. Choose Aurora if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
Fit check
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Aurora
Aurora is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 16% cheaper here at about $1,835 a month. Choose Aurora if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside plus year-round outdoor access
It is also a match for career-focused movers who want salary upside and year-round outdoor access. Median household income runs 8% higher ($95,227), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 76°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Anaheim is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 33% lower than Aurora (143 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.
Bottom line
Aurora carries the heavier crime signal on this page (37/100 safety vs 49/100 in Anaheim). That 12-point spread matters more than the $340 rent gap when you are choosing where to walk after dark.
Anaheim still pays more locally ($95,227 median income vs $88,368), which can offset the lease if your field pays Anaheim rates.
Weather averages land near 61°F in Aurora and 76°F in Anaheim.
Anaheim clears the bar on safety in this dataset. Aurora deserves a serious look only when you already know the Aurora block you would live on and the safety gap is acceptable.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Aurora and Anaheim, plus other cities in CO and CA.
