City comparison
No. Pittsburgh's crime index is 158 versus 212 in Aurora, and its violent crime index is 147 versus 248, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Pittsburgh is cheaper. Median rent is $1,261 a month versus $1,835 in Aurora.
Climate is the sharpest divide between Aurora and Pittsburgh. Aurora averages 61°F while Pittsburgh averages 51°F, a difference that affects utility bills, outdoor lifestyle, and how you feel nine months of the year. Rent runs $1,835 versus $1,261.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Pittsburgh costs less and Aurora 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 rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. Pittsburgh at $1,261 average has pockets that run $1,061 and others at $1,661: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Aurora and Pittsburgh are 1,309 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,835 a month in Aurora to $1,261 a month in Pittsburgh, down $574 a month (31%).
Median household income goes from $88,368 in Aurora to $65,742 in Pittsburgh, down $22,626 (26%).
The crime index goes from 212 in Aurora to 158 in Pittsburgh, down 54 points (25%).
The move
Pittsburgh and Aurora are 1,309 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,261 a month in Pittsburgh to $1,835 a month in Aurora, up $574 a month (46%).
Median household income goes from $65,742 in Pittsburgh to $88,368 in Aurora, up $22,626 (34%).
The crime index goes from 158 in Pittsburgh to 212 in Aurora, up 54 points (34%).
Aurora, CO
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Pittsburgh, PA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Aurora and Pittsburgh? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
31% cheaper
Pittsburgh rent is 31% cheaper than Aurora
Aurora
$1,835/mo
Pittsburgh
Winner$1,261/mo
Typical rent runs $1,261 a month in Pittsburgh versus $1,835 in Aurora, so Pittsburgh is 31% cheaper. That's roughly $574/month back in your pocket ($6,888/year). Over five years that's $34,440 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, Pittsburgh is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.
Planning to buy in Pittsburgh? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
34% higher
Aurora's median income is 34% higher than Pittsburgh
Aurora
Winner$88,368
Pittsburgh
$65,742
Median household income is $88,368 in Aurora versus $65,742 in Pittsburgh, so typical pay runs 34% higher in Aurora (about $22,626 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. Pittsburgh can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
25% lower crime
Pittsburgh's crime index is 25% lower than Aurora
Aurora
212 (100 = avg)
Pittsburgh
Winner158 (100 = avg)
Pittsburgh's crime index is 158 versus 212 in Aurora (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 25% lower in Pittsburgh. 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, Pittsburgh 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
46% more comfortable
Aurora weather is 46% more comfortable than Pittsburgh
Aurora
Winner61°F avg · 71°F highs · comfort 89/100
Pittsburgh
51°F avg · 58°F highs · comfort 61/100
Aurora averages about 61°F (71°F highs); Pittsburgh averages about 51°F (58°F highs). Aurora averages around 61°F. Pittsburgh averages around 51°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Aurora scores 46% 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 Pittsburgh 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 34% 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.
Fit check
Families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy
Pittsburgh is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 31% cheaper here at about $1,261 a month. Choose Pittsburgh if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Pittsburgh is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 25% lower than Aurora (158 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
Housing separates these metros first: $1,261/month in Pittsburgh versus $1,835 in Aurora. Median income reads $65,742 in Pittsburgh and $88,368 in Aurora, which matters when you stack rent against take-home pay.
Pittsburgh rent at $1,261/month is still below Aurora's $1,835, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Weather averages land near 61°F in Aurora and 51°F in Pittsburgh.
Pittsburgh 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 $574/month in Pittsburgh.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
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