City comparison
No. Riverside's crime index is 158 versus 212 in Aurora, and its violent crime index is 163 versus 248, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Aurora is cheaper. Median rent is $1,835 a month versus $1,914 in Riverside.
Safety is where Aurora and Riverside split most clearly. Riverside scores 54 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 $1,914 in Riverside.
Riverside 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 Riverside is the stronger move.
The crime gap is citywide. Riverside has rougher pockets and Aurora has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Aurora and Riverside are 800 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,835 a month in Aurora to $1,914 a month in Riverside, up $79 a month (4%).
Median household income goes from $88,368 in Aurora to $91,045 in Riverside, up $2,677 (3%).
The crime index goes from 212 in Aurora to 158 in Riverside, down 54 points (25%).
The move
Riverside and Aurora are 800 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,914 a month in Riverside to $1,835 a month in Aurora, down $79 a month (4%).
Median household income goes from $91,045 in Riverside to $88,368 in Aurora, down $2,677 (3%).
The crime index goes from 158 in Riverside to 212 in Aurora, up 54 points (34%).
Aurora, CO
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Riverside, CA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Aurora and Riverside? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
4% cheaper
Aurora rent is 4% cheaper than Riverside
Aurora
Winner$1,835/mo
Riverside
$1,914/mo
Typical rent runs $1,835 a month in Aurora versus $1,914 in Riverside, so Aurora is 4% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $79, or $948 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 Riverside? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
3% higher
Riverside's median income is 3% higher than Aurora
Aurora
$88,368
Riverside
Winner$91,045
Median household income is $91,045 in Riverside versus $88,368 in Aurora, so typical pay runs 3% higher in Riverside (about $2,677 more household income a year). The income edge is modest. Treat it as extra negotiating context, not a reason to ignore rent, schools, or climate. Remote workers especially should not treat citywide pay as a personal raise if their employer will not localize salary.
Crime index
25% lower crime
Riverside's crime index is 25% lower than Aurora
Aurora
212 (100 = avg)
Riverside
Winner158 (100 = avg)
Riverside's crime index is 158 versus 212 in Aurora (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 25% lower in Riverside. 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, Riverside 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
Riverside weather is 12% more comfortable than Aurora
Aurora
61°F avg · 71°F highs · comfort 89/100
Riverside
Winner77°F avg · 84°F highs · comfort 100/100
Aurora averages about 61°F (71°F highs); Riverside averages about 77°F (84°F highs). Aurora averages around 61°F. Riverside sits near 77°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Riverside 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 4% 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 3% higher ($91,045), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 77°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Riverside 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
Riverside runs 77°F typical weather against 61°F in Aurora (comfort scores 100 vs 89). Housing is $1,914/month versus $1,835/month, so this decision is lifestyle-weighted as much as financial.
Aurora rent at $1,835/month is still below Riverside's $1,914, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Median income is $91,045 in Riverside versus $88,368 in Aurora.
Pick Aurora when 61°F is the daily environment you want. Otherwise, Riverside's case rests on 77°F you prefer and $1,914 rent you can sustain.
Common questions
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Next steps
Quotes and listings for Riverside when you're ready to act.
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Aurora and Riverside, plus other cities in CO and CA.
