City comparison
No. Richmond's crime index is 169 versus 212 in Aurora, and its violent crime index is 122 versus 248, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Richmond is cheaper. Median rent is $1,372 a month versus $1,835 in Aurora.
The income gap between Aurora and Richmond is significant: $88,368 median household versus $64,587. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $1,835 in Aurora and $1,372 in Richmond.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Richmond 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. Richmond at $1,372 average has pockets that run $1,172 and others at $1,772: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Aurora and Richmond are 1,479 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,835 a month in Aurora to $1,372 a month in Richmond, down $463 a month (25%).
Median household income goes from $88,368 in Aurora to $64,587 in Richmond, down $23,781 (27%).
The crime index goes from 212 in Aurora to 169 in Richmond, down 43 points (20%).
The move
Richmond and Aurora are 1,479 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,372 a month in Richmond to $1,835 a month in Aurora, up $463 a month (34%).
Median household income goes from $64,587 in Richmond to $88,368 in Aurora, up $23,781 (37%).
The crime index goes from 169 in Richmond to 212 in Aurora, up 43 points (25%).
Aurora, CO
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Richmond, VA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Aurora and Richmond? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
25% cheaper
Richmond rent is 25% cheaper than Aurora
Aurora
$1,835/mo
Richmond
Winner$1,372/mo
Typical rent runs $1,372 a month in Richmond versus $1,835 in Aurora, so Richmond is 25% cheaper. That's roughly $463/month back in your pocket ($5,556/year). Over five years that's $27,780 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, Richmond is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.
Planning to buy in Richmond? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
37% higher
Aurora's median income is 37% higher than Richmond
Aurora
Winner$88,368
Richmond
$64,587
Median household income is $88,368 in Aurora versus $64,587 in Richmond, so typical pay runs 37% higher in Aurora (about $23,781 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. Richmond can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
20% lower crime
Richmond's crime index is 20% lower than Aurora
Aurora
212 (100 = avg)
Richmond
Winner169 (100 = avg)
Richmond's crime index is 169 versus 212 in Aurora (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 20% lower in Richmond. 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, Richmond 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
14% more comfortable
Aurora weather is 14% more comfortable than Richmond
Aurora
Winner61°F avg · 71°F highs · comfort 89/100
Richmond
57°F avg · 66°F highs · comfort 78/100
Aurora averages about 61°F (71°F highs); Richmond averages about 57°F (66°F highs). Aurora averages around 61°F. Richmond averages around 57°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Aurora scores 14% 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 Richmond 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.
Fit check
Families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy
Richmond is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 25% cheaper here at about $1,372 a month. Choose Richmond if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Richmond is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 20% lower than Aurora (169 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: $1,372/month in Richmond versus $1,835 in Aurora. Median income reads $64,587 in Richmond and $88,368 in Aurora, which matters when you stack rent against take-home pay.
Richmond rent at $1,372/month is still below Aurora's $1,835, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Safety scores read 37/100 in Aurora and 44/100 in Richmond.
If housing cost drives your move, Richmond is the stronger match ($1,372/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.
Common questions
Ready to move to Richmond?
Next steps
Quotes and listings for Richmond when you're ready to act.
Keep researching
Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Aurora and Richmond, plus other cities in CO and VA.
