City comparison
No. Huntsville's crime index is 134 versus 212 in Aurora, and its violent crime index is 127 versus 248, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Huntsville is cheaper. Median rent is $1,171 a month versus $1,835 in Aurora.
Safety is where Aurora and Huntsville split most clearly. Huntsville scores 78 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 $1,171 in Huntsville.
Huntsville 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 Huntsville is the stronger move.
The rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. Huntsville at $1,171 average has pockets that run $971 and others at $1,571: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Aurora and Huntsville are 1,059 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,835 a month in Aurora to $1,171 a month in Huntsville, down $664 a month (36%).
Median household income goes from $88,368 in Aurora to $74,714 in Huntsville, down $13,654 (15%).
The crime index goes from 212 in Aurora to 134 in Huntsville, down 78 points (37%).
The move
Huntsville and Aurora are 1,059 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,171 a month in Huntsville to $1,835 a month in Aurora, up $664 a month (57%).
Median household income goes from $74,714 in Huntsville to $88,368 in Aurora, up $13,654 (18%).
The crime index goes from 134 in Huntsville to 212 in Aurora, up 78 points (58%).
Aurora, CO
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Huntsville, AL
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Aurora and Huntsville? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
36% cheaper
Huntsville rent is 36% cheaper than Aurora
Aurora
$1,835/mo
Huntsville
Winner$1,171/mo
Typical rent runs $1,171 a month in Huntsville versus $1,835 in Aurora, so Huntsville is 36% cheaper. That's roughly $664/month back in your pocket ($7,968/year). Over five years that's $39,840 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, Huntsville is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.
Planning to buy in Huntsville? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
18% higher
Aurora's median income is 18% higher than Huntsville
Aurora
Winner$88,368
Huntsville
$74,714
Median household income is $88,368 in Aurora versus $74,714 in Huntsville, so typical pay runs 18% higher in Aurora (about $13,654 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. Huntsville can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
37% lower crime
Huntsville's crime index is 37% lower than Aurora
Aurora
212 (100 = avg)
Huntsville
Winner134 (100 = avg)
Huntsville's crime index is 134 versus 212 in Aurora (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 37% lower in Huntsville. 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, Huntsville 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
6% more comfortable
Huntsville weather is 6% more comfortable than Aurora
Aurora
61°F avg · 71°F highs · comfort 89/100
Huntsville
Winner63°F avg · 74°F highs · comfort 94/100
Aurora averages about 61°F (71°F highs); Huntsville averages about 63°F (74°F highs). Aurora averages around 61°F. Huntsville averages around 63°F. Huntsville scores 6% 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
Huntsville is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 36% cheaper here at about $1,171 a month. Choose Huntsville if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Pick Huntsville if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (63°F) beat Aurora on this page's weather index by 6%. Aurora may pay more or cost less, but Huntsville is the city where the forecast fights you less.
Huntsville is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 37% lower than Aurora (134 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
Rent is the clearest fork: Huntsville at $1,171/month versus $1,835 in Aurora ($664 apart). Aurora median income is $88,368 against $74,714 in Huntsville, so the cheaper lease does not always pair with the stronger local wage base.
Huntsville rent at $1,171/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 $74,714 in Huntsville.
If housing cost drives your move, Huntsville is the stronger match ($1,171/month rent against $1,835). If an employer or family tie already points to Aurora, treat $1,835/month rent and $88,368 income as the numbers that actually govern the decision.
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