City comparison
Yes. Aurora's crime index is 212 versus 341 in Cleveland, and its violent crime index is 248 versus 425, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Cleveland is cheaper. Median rent is $1,060 a month versus $1,835 in Aurora.
The cost gap between Aurora and Cleveland is the real story here. Cleveland comes in 42% cheaper on typical rent ($1,835 vs $1,060), which over a year adds up to $9,300. Median household income runs $88,368 in Aurora and $64,468 in Cleveland.
Aurora is not a close call here. It leads on the job market, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Cleveland makes sense if you have a specific reason, a job offer, family, or a neighborhood you already know, but on the numbers alone Aurora is the stronger move.
The rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. Cleveland at $1,060 average has pockets that run $860 and others at $1,460: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Aurora and Cleveland are 1,216 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,835 a month in Aurora to $1,060 a month in Cleveland, down $775 a month (42%).
Median household income goes from $88,368 in Aurora to $64,468 in Cleveland, down $23,900 (27%).
The crime index goes from 212 in Aurora to 341 in Cleveland, up 129 points (61%).
The move
Cleveland and Aurora are 1,216 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,060 a month in Cleveland to $1,835 a month in Aurora, up $775 a month (73%).
Median household income goes from $64,468 in Cleveland to $88,368 in Aurora, up $23,900 (37%).
The crime index goes from 341 in Cleveland to 212 in Aurora, down 129 points (38%).
Aurora, CO
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Cleveland, OH
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Aurora and Cleveland? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
42% cheaper
Cleveland rent is 42% cheaper than Aurora
Aurora
$1,835/mo
Cleveland
Winner$1,060/mo
Typical rent runs $1,060 a month in Cleveland versus $1,835 in Aurora, so Cleveland is 42% cheaper. That's roughly $775/month back in your pocket ($9,300/year). Over five years that's $46,500 you could redirect toward a down payment, travel, or investments. Housing is the bill you pay before groceries, childcare, or a social life, so that gap shows up in how often you eat out and how panicked a rent hike feels. If you already have a high-paying offer in Aurora, the extra rent can be rational. If you do not, Cleveland is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.
Planning to buy in Aurora? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
37% higher
Aurora's median income is 37% higher than Cleveland
Aurora
Winner$88,368
Cleveland
$64,468
Median household income is $88,368 in Aurora versus $64,468 in Cleveland, so typical pay runs 37% higher in Aurora (about $23,900 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. Cleveland 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
Aurora's crime index is 38% lower than Cleveland
Aurora
Winner212 (100 = avg)
Cleveland
341 (100 = avg)
Aurora's crime index is 212 versus 341 in Cleveland (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 38% lower in Aurora. 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, Aurora is the easier city. Cleveland can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
35% more comfortable
Aurora weather is 35% more comfortable than Cleveland
Aurora
Winner61°F avg · 71°F highs · comfort 89/100
Cleveland
53°F avg · 58°F highs · comfort 66/100
Aurora averages about 61°F (71°F highs); Cleveland averages about 53°F (58°F highs). Aurora averages around 61°F. Cleveland averages around 53°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Aurora scores 35% 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 Cleveland 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 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 37% higher ($88,368), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 61°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Aurora 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 Cleveland (212 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
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Cleveland
Cleveland is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 42% cheaper here at about $1,060 a month. Choose Cleveland if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Bottom line
Rent is the clearest fork: Cleveland at $1,060/month versus $1,835 in Aurora ($775 apart). Aurora median income is $88,368 against $64,468 in Cleveland, so the cheaper lease does not always pair with the stronger local wage base.
Cleveland rent at $1,060/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 $64,468 in Cleveland.
Cleveland 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 $775/month in Cleveland.
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