City comparison
No. St Petersburg's crime index is 165 versus 212 in Aurora, and its violent crime index is 167 versus 248, using 2024-2025 FBI data for Aurora and 2023 FBI data for St Petersburg.
St Petersburg is cheaper. Median rent is $1,663 a month versus $1,835 in Aurora.
Safety is where Aurora and St Petersburg split most clearly. St Petersburg scores 47 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 $1,663 in St Petersburg.
St Petersburg is not a close call here. It leads on cost of living, 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 St Petersburg is the stronger move.
The crime gap is citywide. St Petersburg has rougher pockets and Aurora has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Aurora and St Petersburg are 1,504 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,835 a month in Aurora to $1,663 a month in St Petersburg, down $172 a month (9%).
Median household income goes from $88,368 in Aurora to $75,192 in St Petersburg, down $13,176 (15%).
The crime index goes from 212 in Aurora to 165 in St Petersburg, down 47 points (22%).
The move
St Petersburg and Aurora are 1,504 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,663 a month in St Petersburg to $1,835 a month in Aurora, up $172 a month (10%).
Median household income goes from $75,192 in St Petersburg to $88,368 in Aurora, up $13,176 (18%).
The crime index goes from 165 in St Petersburg to 212 in Aurora, up 47 points (28%).
Aurora, CO
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
St Petersburg, FL
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Aurora and St Petersburg? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
9% cheaper
St Petersburg rent is 9% cheaper than Aurora
Aurora
$1,835/mo
St Petersburg
Winner$1,663/mo
Typical rent runs $1,663 a month in St Petersburg versus $1,835 in Aurora, so St Petersburg is 9% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $172, or $2,064 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 St Petersburg? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
18% higher
Aurora's median income is 18% higher than St Petersburg
Aurora
Winner$88,368
St Petersburg
$75,192
Median household income is $88,368 in Aurora versus $75,192 in St Petersburg, so typical pay runs 18% higher in Aurora (about $13,176 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 Petersburg can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
22% lower crime
St Petersburg's crime index is 22% lower than Aurora
Aurora
212 (100 = avg)
St Petersburg
Winner165 (100 = avg)
St Petersburg's crime index is 165 versus 212 in Aurora (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 22% lower in St Petersburg. 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, St Petersburg 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
St Petersburg weather is 12% more comfortable than Aurora
Aurora
61°F avg · 71°F highs · comfort 89/100
St Petersburg
Winner77°F avg · 82°F highs · comfort 100/100
Aurora averages about 61°F (71°F highs); St Petersburg averages about 77°F (82°F highs). Aurora averages around 61°F. St Petersburg sits near 77°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. St Petersburg 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
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Aurora is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 18% higher here ($88,368). Start with Aurora if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Fit check
Outdoor enthusiasts and people who need year-round access to nature for their wellbeing
St Petersburg is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 9% cheaper here at about $1,663 a month. Choose St Petersburg if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Pick St Petersburg if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (77°F) beat Aurora on this page's weather index by 12%. Aurora may pay more or cost less, but St Petersburg is the city where the forecast fights you less.
St Petersburg is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 22% lower than Aurora (165 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
Crime and safety tilt toward St Petersburg: St Petersburg scores 45/100 versus 37/100 in Aurora, with typical rent at $1,663 versus $1,835. I would vet the exact ZIP in Aurora before trading 8 safety points for housing savings.
Safety still diverges (45/100 in St Petersburg vs 37/100 in Aurora), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Median income is $88,368 in Aurora versus $75,192 in St Petersburg.
Pick St Petersburg when you want the stronger safety signal (45/100). Otherwise, Aurora's case rests on a Aurora ZIP you trust at $1,835 rent.
Common questions
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Next steps
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