City comparison
Yes. Aurora's crime index is 212 versus 233 in Stockton, and its violent crime index is 248 versus 314, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Stockton is cheaper. Median rent is $1,577 a month versus $1,835 in Aurora.
Climate is the sharpest divide between Aurora and Stockton. Aurora averages 56°F while Stockton averages 67°F, a difference that affects utility bills, outdoor lifestyle, and how you feel nine months of the year. Rent runs $1,835 versus $1,577.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Stockton 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.
Weather is the one thing you cannot negotiate with. Visit Aurora in its coldest stretch before you sign anything.
The move
Aurora and Stockton are 893 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,835 a month in Aurora to $1,577 a month in Stockton, down $258 a month (14%).
Median household income goes from $88,368 in Aurora to $79,907 in Stockton, down $8,461 (10%).
The crime index goes from 212 in Aurora to 233 in Stockton, up 21 points (10%).
The move
Stockton and Aurora are 893 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,577 a month in Stockton to $1,835 a month in Aurora, up $258 a month (16%).
Median household income goes from $79,907 in Stockton to $88,368 in Aurora, up $8,461 (11%).
The crime index goes from 233 in Stockton to 212 in Aurora, down 21 points (9%).
Aurora, CO
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Stockton, CA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Aurora and Stockton? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
14% cheaper
Stockton rent is 14% cheaper than Aurora
Aurora
$1,835/mo
Stockton
Winner$1,577/mo
Typical rent runs $1,577 a month in Stockton versus $1,835 in Aurora, so Stockton is 14% cheaper. A meaningful but not dramatic gap. Factor it into your budget alongside salary differences between the two markets. Over a year the spread is about $3,096, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Stockton still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Aurora.
Planning to buy in Stockton? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
11% higher
Aurora's median income is 11% higher than Stockton
Aurora
Winner$88,368
Stockton
$79,907
Median household income is $88,368 in Aurora versus $79,907 in Stockton, so typical pay runs 11% higher in Aurora (about $8,461 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. Stockton can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
9% lower crime
Aurora's crime index is 9% lower than Stockton
Aurora
Winner212 (100 = avg)
Stockton
233 (100 = avg)
Aurora's crime index is 212 versus 233 in Stockton (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 9% lower in Aurora. The difference is noticeable without being night-and-day. You will still want to pick the neighborhood carefully in Aurora, but you will usually spend less energy on constant vigilance than you would in Stockton. Tour both cities after dark before you let a modest index gap close the decision.
Typical weather
33% more comfortable
Stockton weather is 33% more comfortable than Aurora
Aurora
56°F avg · 65°F highs · comfort 75/100
Stockton
Winner67°F avg · 78°F highs · comfort 100/100
Aurora averages about 56°F (65°F highs); Stockton averages about 67°F (78°F highs). Aurora averages around 56°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Stockton sits near 67°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Stockton scores 33% 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 11% higher here ($88,368). Start with Aurora if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Aurora is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 9% lower than Stockton (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
Outdoor enthusiasts and people who need year-round access to nature for their wellbeing
Stockton is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 14% cheaper here at about $1,577 a month. Choose Stockton if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Pick Stockton if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (67°F) beat Aurora on this page's weather index by 33%. Aurora may pay more or cost less, but Stockton is the city where the forecast fights you less.
Bottom line
Stockton runs 67°F typical weather against 56°F in Aurora (comfort scores 100 vs 75). Housing is $1,577/month versus $1,835/month, so this decision is lifestyle-weighted as much as financial.
Aurora still pays more locally ($88,368 median income vs $79,907), which can offset the lease if your field pays Aurora rates.
Median income is $88,368 in Aurora versus $79,907 in Stockton.
If climate drives your move, Aurora is the stronger match (56°F typical weather versus 67°F). If an employer or family tie already points to Stockton, treat $1,577/month rent and $79,907 income as the numbers that actually govern the decision.
Common questions
Ready to move to Stockton?
Next steps
Quotes and listings for Stockton when you're ready to act.
Keep researching
Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Aurora and Stockton, plus other cities in CO and CA.
