City comparison
No. Jersey City's crime index is 135 versus 212 in Aurora, and its violent crime index is 152 versus 248, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Aurora is cheaper. Median rent is $1,835 a month versus $2,007 in Jersey City.
Safety is where Aurora and Jersey City split most clearly. Jersey City scores 77 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 $2,007 in Jersey City.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Aurora costs less and Jersey City pays more: the right call depends on whether you are optimizing for take-home pay or monthly burn rate. Both are defensible choices for different reasons.
The crime gap is citywide. Jersey City has rougher pockets and Aurora has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Aurora and Jersey City are 1,615 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,835 a month in Aurora to $2,007 a month in Jersey City, up $172 a month (9%).
Median household income goes from $88,368 in Aurora to $97,710 in Jersey City, up $9,342 (11%).
The crime index goes from 212 in Aurora to 135 in Jersey City, down 77 points (36%).
The move
Jersey City and Aurora are 1,615 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $2,007 a month in Jersey City to $1,835 a month in Aurora, down $172 a month (9%).
Median household income goes from $97,710 in Jersey City to $88,368 in Aurora, down $9,342 (10%).
The crime index goes from 135 in Jersey City to 212 in Aurora, up 77 points (57%).
Aurora, CO
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Jersey City, NJ
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Aurora and Jersey City? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
9% cheaper
Aurora rent is 9% cheaper than Jersey City
Aurora
Winner$1,835/mo
Jersey City
$2,007/mo
Typical rent runs $1,835 a month in Aurora versus $2,007 in Jersey City, so Aurora is 9% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $172, or $2,064 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 Aurora? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
11% higher
Jersey City's median income is 11% higher than Aurora
Aurora
$88,368
Jersey City
Winner$97,710
Median household income is $97,710 in Jersey City versus $88,368 in Aurora, so typical pay runs 11% higher in Jersey City (about $9,342 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, Jersey City is the stronger labor market on paper. Aurora can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
36% lower crime
Jersey City's crime index is 36% lower than Aurora
Aurora
212 (100 = avg)
Jersey City
Winner135 (100 = avg)
Jersey City's crime index is 135 versus 212 in Aurora (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 36% lower in Jersey City. 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, Jersey City 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
35% more comfortable
Aurora weather is 35% more comfortable than Jersey City
Aurora
Winner61°F avg · 71°F highs · comfort 89/100
Jersey City
53°F avg · 58°F highs · comfort 66/100
Aurora averages about 61°F (71°F highs); Jersey City averages about 53°F (58°F highs). Aurora averages around 61°F. Jersey City 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 Jersey City if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
Fit check
Outdoor enthusiasts and people who need year-round access to nature for their wellbeing
Aurora is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 9% 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.
Pick Aurora if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (61°F) beat Jersey City on this page's weather index by 35%. Jersey City may pay more or cost less, but Aurora is the city where the forecast fights you less.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Jersey City is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 11% higher here ($97,710). Start with Jersey City if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Jersey City is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 36% lower than Aurora (135 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 Jersey City leads on safety (51/100 vs 37/100 in Aurora). Typical rent is $2,007 in Jersey City and $1,835 in Aurora; do not assume the cheaper lease buys the calmer blocks.
Safety still diverges (51/100 in Jersey City vs 37/100 in Aurora), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Median income is $97,710 in Jersey City versus $88,368 in Aurora.
Jersey City is ahead on safety (51/100 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 Jersey City, plus other cities in CO and NJ.
