City comparison
No. Scottsdale's crime index is 79 versus 212 in Aurora, and its violent crime index is 48 versus 248, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Aurora is cheaper. Median rent is $1,835 a month versus $2,013 in Scottsdale.
Safety is where Aurora and Scottsdale split most clearly. Scottsdale scores 133 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 $2,013 in Scottsdale.
Scottsdale 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 Scottsdale is the stronger move.
The crime gap is citywide. Scottsdale has rougher pockets and Aurora has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Aurora and Scottsdale are 581 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,835 a month in Aurora to $2,013 a month in Scottsdale, up $178 a month (10%).
Median household income goes from $88,368 in Aurora to $110,886 in Scottsdale, up $22,518 (25%).
The crime index goes from 212 in Aurora to 79 in Scottsdale, down 133 points (63%).
The move
Scottsdale and Aurora are 581 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $2,013 a month in Scottsdale to $1,835 a month in Aurora, down $178 a month (9%).
Median household income goes from $110,886 in Scottsdale to $88,368 in Aurora, down $22,518 (20%).
The crime index goes from 79 in Scottsdale to 212 in Aurora, up 133 points (168%).
Aurora, CO
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Scottsdale, AZ
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Aurora and Scottsdale? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
9% cheaper
Aurora rent is 9% cheaper than Scottsdale
Aurora
Winner$1,835/mo
Scottsdale
$2,013/mo
Typical rent runs $1,835 a month in Aurora versus $2,013 in Scottsdale, so Aurora is 9% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $178, or $2,136 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 Scottsdale? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
25% higher
Scottsdale's median income is 25% higher than Aurora
Aurora
$88,368
Scottsdale
Winner$110,886
Median household income is $110,886 in Scottsdale versus $88,368 in Aurora, so typical pay runs 25% higher in Scottsdale (about $22,518 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, Scottsdale 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
63% lower crime
Scottsdale's crime index is 63% lower than Aurora
Aurora
212 (100 = avg)
Scottsdale
Winner79 (100 = avg)
Scottsdale's crime index is 79 versus 212 in Aurora (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 63% lower in Scottsdale. 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, Scottsdale 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
Scottsdale weather is 12% more comfortable than Aurora
Aurora
61°F avg · 71°F highs · comfort 89/100
Scottsdale
Winner79°F avg · 86°F highs · comfort 100/100
Aurora averages about 61°F (71°F highs); Scottsdale averages about 79°F (86°F highs). Aurora averages around 61°F. Scottsdale sits near 79°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Scottsdale 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 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.
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 25% higher ($110,886), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 79°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Scottsdale is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 63% lower than Aurora (79 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
Aurora carries the heavier crime signal on this page (37/100 safety vs 67/100 in Scottsdale). That 30-point spread matters more than the $178 rent gap when you are choosing where to walk after dark.
Safety still diverges (67/100 in Scottsdale vs 37/100 in Aurora), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Median income is $110,886 in Scottsdale versus $88,368 in Aurora.
If safety drives your move, Scottsdale is the stronger match (67/100 safety versus 37/100). 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
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