City comparison
No. Arlington's crime index is 132 versus 212 in Aurora, and its violent crime index is 130 versus 248, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Arlington is cheaper. Median rent is $1,470 a month versus $1,835 in Aurora.
Safety is where Aurora and Arlington split most clearly. Arlington scores 80 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 $1,470 in Arlington.
Arlington is not a close call here. It leads on cost of living, 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 Arlington is the stronger move.
The rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. Arlington at $1,470 average has pockets that run $1,270 and others at $1,870: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Aurora and Arlington are 647 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,835 a month in Aurora to $1,470 a month in Arlington, down $365 a month (20%).
Median household income goes from $88,368 in Aurora to $75,171 in Arlington, down $13,197 (15%).
The crime index goes from 212 in Aurora to 132 in Arlington, down 80 points (38%).
The move
Arlington and Aurora are 647 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,470 a month in Arlington to $1,835 a month in Aurora, up $365 a month (25%).
Median household income goes from $75,171 in Arlington to $88,368 in Aurora, up $13,197 (18%).
The crime index goes from 132 in Arlington to 212 in Aurora, up 80 points (61%).
Aurora, CO
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Arlington, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Aurora and Arlington? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
20% cheaper
Arlington rent is 20% cheaper than Aurora
Aurora
$1,835/mo
Arlington
Winner$1,470/mo
Typical rent runs $1,470 a month in Arlington versus $1,835 in Aurora, so Arlington is 20% 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 $4,380, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Arlington still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Aurora.
Planning to buy in Arlington? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
18% higher
Aurora's median income is 18% higher than Arlington
Aurora
Winner$88,368
Arlington
$75,171
Median household income is $88,368 in Aurora versus $75,171 in Arlington, so typical pay runs 18% higher in Aurora (about $13,197 more household income a year). Higher median income usually signals a stronger local job market and better negotiating leverage on salary. Remote workers should weigh this against cost of living rather than treating it as a direct personal benefit. For people who will actually work in town, Aurora is the stronger labor market on paper. Arlington can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
38% lower crime
Arlington's crime index is 38% lower than Aurora
Aurora
212 (100 = avg)
Arlington
Winner132 (100 = avg)
Arlington's crime index is 132 versus 212 in Aurora (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 38% lower in Arlington. 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, Arlington 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
Arlington weather is 12% more comfortable than Aurora
Aurora
61°F avg · 71°F highs · comfort 89/100
Arlington
Winner67°F avg · 74°F highs · comfort 100/100
Aurora averages about 61°F (71°F highs); Arlington averages about 67°F (74°F highs). Aurora averages around 61°F. Arlington sits near 67°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Arlington 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
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 18% higher here ($88,368). Start with Aurora if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Fit check
Outdoor enthusiasts and people who need year-round access to nature for their wellbeing
Arlington is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 20% cheaper here at about $1,470 a month. Choose Arlington if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Pick Arlington if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (67°F) beat Aurora on this page's weather index by 12%. Aurora may pay more or cost less, but Arlington is the city where the forecast fights you less.
Arlington is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 38% lower than Aurora (132 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
Neither city is a free pass on neighborhood choice, but Arlington leads on safety (52/100 vs 37/100 in Aurora). Typical rent is $1,470 in Arlington and $1,835 in Aurora; do not assume the cheaper lease buys the calmer blocks.
Aurora still pays more locally ($88,368 median income vs $75,171), which can offset the lease if your field pays Aurora rates.
Median income is $88,368 in Aurora versus $75,171 in Arlington.
Arlington is ahead on safety (52/100 vs 37/100); Aurora is still viable when you have a vetted ZIP there and $1,835/month rent plus $88,368 income fit your budget better than the safety margin.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Aurora and Arlington, plus other cities in CO and TX.
