City comparison
Yes. Aurora's crime index is 212 versus 352 in St Louis, and its violent crime index is 248 versus 376, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
St Louis is cheaper. Median rent is $997 a month versus $1,835 in Aurora.
The income gap between Aurora and St Louis is significant: $88,368 median household versus $56,160. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $1,835 in Aurora and $997 in St Louis.
Aurora is not a close call here. It leads on the job market, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. St Louis makes sense if you have a specific reason, a job offer, family, or a neighborhood you already know, but on the numbers alone Aurora is the stronger move.
The rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. St Louis at $997 average has pockets that run $797 and others at $1,397: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Aurora and St Louis are 787 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,835 a month in Aurora to $997 a month in St Louis, down $838 a month (46%).
Median household income goes from $88,368 in Aurora to $56,160 in St Louis, down $32,208 (36%).
The crime index goes from 212 in Aurora to 352 in St Louis, up 140 points (66%).
The move
St Louis and Aurora are 787 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $997 a month in St Louis to $1,835 a month in Aurora, up $838 a month (84%).
Median household income goes from $56,160 in St Louis to $88,368 in Aurora, up $32,208 (57%).
The crime index goes from 352 in St Louis to 212 in Aurora, down 140 points (40%).
Aurora, CO
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
St Louis, MO
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Aurora and St Louis? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
46% cheaper
St Louis rent is 46% cheaper than Aurora
Aurora
$1,835/mo
St Louis
Winner$997/mo
Typical rent runs $997 a month in St Louis versus $1,835 in Aurora, so St Louis is 46% cheaper. That's roughly $838/month back in your pocket ($10,056/year). Over five years that's $50,280 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, St Louis is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.
Planning to buy in Aurora? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
57% higher
Aurora's median income is 57% higher than St Louis
Aurora
Winner$88,368
St Louis
$56,160
Median household income is $88,368 in Aurora versus $56,160 in St Louis, so typical pay runs 57% higher in Aurora (about $32,208 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. St Louis can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
40% lower crime
Aurora's crime index is 40% lower than St Louis
Aurora
Winner212 (100 = avg)
St Louis
352 (100 = avg)
Aurora's crime index is 212 versus 352 in St Louis (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 40% lower in Aurora. 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, Aurora is the easier city. St Louis can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
11% more comfortable
Aurora weather is 11% more comfortable than St Louis
Aurora
Winner61°F avg · 71°F highs · comfort 89/100
St Louis
58°F avg · 67°F highs · comfort 80/100
Aurora averages about 61°F (71°F highs); St Louis averages about 58°F (67°F highs). Aurora averages around 61°F. St Louis averages around 58°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Aurora scores 11% 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 St Louis 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 57% 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.
Aurora is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 40% lower than St Louis (212 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.
Fit check
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to St Louis
St Louis is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 46% cheaper here at about $997 a month. Choose St Louis if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Bottom line
On rent alone, St Louis undercuts Aurora by $838/month ($997 vs $1,835). I would not pick Aurora on housing cost without a job that clears that spread.
St Louis rent at $997/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 22/100 in St Louis.
Most movers who prioritize housing cost land in St Louis; Aurora only makes sense when your offer letter is already written for Aurora at $88,368 income.
Common questions
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Next steps
Quotes and listings for Aurora when you're ready to act.
Keep researching
Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Aurora and St Louis, plus other cities in CO and MO.
