City comparison
Yes. Aurora's crime index is 212 versus 221 in Toledo, and its violent crime index is 248 versus 279, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Toledo is cheaper. Median rent is $934 a month versus $1,835 in Aurora.
The cost gap between Aurora and Toledo is the real story here. Toledo comes in 49% cheaper on typical rent ($1,835 vs $934), which over a year adds up to $10,812. Median household income runs $88,368 in Aurora and $62,224 in Toledo.
Aurora is not a close call here. It leads on the job market, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Toledo 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. Toledo at $934 average has pockets that run $734 and others at $1,334: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Aurora and Toledo are 1,120 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,835 a month in Aurora to $934 a month in Toledo, down $901 a month (49%).
Median household income goes from $88,368 in Aurora to $62,224 in Toledo, down $26,144 (30%).
The crime index goes from 212 in Aurora to 221 in Toledo, up 9 points (4%).
The move
Toledo and Aurora are 1,120 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $934 a month in Toledo to $1,835 a month in Aurora, up $901 a month (96%).
Median household income goes from $62,224 in Toledo to $88,368 in Aurora, up $26,144 (42%).
The crime index goes from 221 in Toledo to 212 in Aurora, down 9 points (4%).
Aurora, CO
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Toledo, OH
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Aurora and Toledo? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
49% cheaper
Toledo rent is 49% cheaper than Aurora
Aurora
$1,835/mo
Toledo
Winner$934/mo
Typical rent runs $934 a month in Toledo versus $1,835 in Aurora, so Toledo is 49% cheaper. That's roughly $901/month back in your pocket ($10,812/year). Over five years that's $54,060 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, Toledo 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
42% higher
Aurora's median income is 42% higher than Toledo
Aurora
Winner$88,368
Toledo
$62,224
Median household income is $88,368 in Aurora versus $62,224 in Toledo, so typical pay runs 42% higher in Aurora (about $26,144 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. Toledo can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
4% lower crime
Aurora's crime index is 4% lower than Toledo
Aurora
Winner212 (100 = avg)
Toledo
221 (100 = avg)
Aurora's crime index is 212 versus 221 in Toledo (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 4% 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 Toledo. Tour both cities after dark before you let a modest index gap close the decision.
Typical weather
46% more comfortable
Aurora weather is 46% more comfortable than Toledo
Aurora
Winner61°F avg · 71°F highs · comfort 89/100
Toledo
51°F avg · 58°F highs · comfort 61/100
Aurora averages about 61°F (71°F highs); Toledo averages about 51°F (58°F highs). Aurora averages around 61°F. Toledo averages around 51°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Aurora scores 46% 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 Toledo 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 42% 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 4% lower than Toledo (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 Toledo
Toledo is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 49% cheaper here at about $934 a month. Choose Toledo 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, Toledo undercuts Aurora by $901/month ($934 vs $1,835). I would not pick Aurora on housing cost without a job that clears that spread.
Toledo rent at $934/month is still below Aurora's $1,835, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Weather averages land near 61°F in Aurora and 51°F in Toledo.
Toledo is the default on housing cost at $934/month versus $1,835 in Aurora; Aurora stays in play when $88,368 local pay or an existing job offer outweighs the $901 lease gap.
Common questions
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Next steps
Quotes and listings for Aurora when you're ready to act.
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Aurora and Toledo, plus other cities in CO and OH.
