City comparison
No. Plano's crime index is 62 versus 212 in Aurora, and its violent crime index is 43 versus 248, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Aurora is cheaper. Median rent is $1,835 a month versus $1,841 in Plano.
Safety is where Aurora and Plano split most clearly. Plano scores 150 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 $1,841 in Plano.
Plano is not a close call here. It leads on the job market, 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 Plano is the stronger move.
The crime gap is citywide. Plano has rougher pockets and Aurora has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Aurora and Plano are 647 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,835 a month in Aurora to $1,841 a month in Plano, up $6 a month (under 1%).
Median household income goes from $88,368 in Aurora to $112,253 in Plano, up $23,885 (27%).
The crime index goes from 212 in Aurora to 62 in Plano, down 150 points (71%).
The move
Plano and Aurora are 647 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,841 a month in Plano to $1,835 a month in Aurora, down $6 a month (under 1%).
Median household income goes from $112,253 in Plano to $88,368 in Aurora, down $23,885 (21%).
The crime index goes from 62 in Plano to 212 in Aurora, up 150 points (242%).
Aurora, CO
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Plano, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Aurora and Plano? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
1% cheaper
Aurora rent is 1% cheaper than Plano
Aurora
Winner$1,835/mo
Plano
$1,841/mo
Typical rent runs $1,835 a month in Aurora versus $1,841 in Plano, so Aurora is 1% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $6, or $72 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 Plano? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
27% higher
Plano's median income is 27% higher than Aurora
Aurora
$88,368
Plano
Winner$112,253
Median household income is $112,253 in Plano versus $88,368 in Aurora, so typical pay runs 27% higher in Plano (about $23,885 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, Plano 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
71% lower crime
Plano's crime index is 71% lower than Aurora
Aurora
212 (100 = avg)
Plano
Winner62 (100 = avg)
Plano's crime index is 62 versus 212 in Aurora (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 71% lower in Plano. 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, Plano 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
Plano weather is 12% more comfortable than Aurora
Aurora
61°F avg · 71°F highs · comfort 89/100
Plano
Winner69°F avg · 77°F highs · comfort 100/100
Aurora averages about 61°F (71°F highs); Plano averages about 69°F (77°F highs). Aurora averages around 61°F. Plano sits near 69°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Plano 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
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Aurora
Aurora is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 1% 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.
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 27% higher ($112,253), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 69°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Plano is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 71% lower than Aurora (62 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 Plano leads on safety (75/100 vs 37/100 in Aurora). With rent tied near $1,841/month, do not assume either lease buys the calmer blocks.
Median income is $112,253 in Plano versus $88,368 in Aurora — with rent matched, the paycheck gap matters more.
Weather averages land near 61°F in Aurora and 69°F in Plano.
Most movers who prioritize safety land in Plano; Aurora only makes sense when you have walked the Aurora ZIP you would rent and accept the trade for $1,835 rent.
Common questions
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Next steps
Quotes and listings for Plano when you're ready to act.
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Aurora and Plano, plus other cities in CO and TX.
