Is Aurora cheaper than Denver?

Yes. Typical rent in Aurora is $1,781 a month versus $2,089 in Denver — 15% cheaper. Median household income is $85,943 in Aurora compared with $85,853 in Denver, so Aurora has the stronger local pay picture.

Which city is safer, Aurora or Denver?

Aurora is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 86 versus 137 in Denver — 37% lower (100 is the national average). Citywide indexes still hide neighborhood variation, so walk the block you would actually rent.

Which city has better schools, Aurora or Denver?

School composites are close: A- in Aurora and A- in Denver. Tour specific campuses rather than picking a city on the letter grade alone.

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City comparison

Aurora, IL vs Denver, CO

Aurora, IL versus Denver, CO is a real move, not a trivia matchup. This comparison uses the same 2026 neighborhood report data we publish on each city page — typical rent, median household income, crime indexes, school composites, and typical weather — so you can see which city actually fits how you live, work, and spend. Typical rents sit near $1,781 a month in Aurora and $2,089 in Denver, and median household income lands at $85,943 versus $85,853. Open either city's full report when you want the block-level detail behind these headlines.

Aurora takes affordability, job market, safety, and weather. The widest gap is crime index, where Aurora leads by 37% — the kind of spread you feel in a monthly budget or a nightly walk, not just on a chart. Read the category rows as a filter: if cheaper housing would change your life more than a stronger job market, weight rent first. If you are moving with kids, weight schools and crime. If you picked a city after one good weekend, use the weather and income rows to test whether that weekend survives a full year.

Numbers below are citywide, not a guarantee about the street you will actually live on. Two ZIP codes in Aurora can feel further apart than Aurora and Denver do on paper. Use this page to pick a city, then use the Aurora and Denver reports to pick a neighborhood — and visit in the season you like least before you sign anything.

Full Aurora report Full Denver report

Aurora, IL

Rent: $1,781/mo
Median income: $85,943
Crime index: 86
Schools: A-
Weather: 67°F

Denver, CO

Rent: $2,089/mo
Median income: $85,853
Crime index: 137
Schools: A-
Weather: 82°F

Rent

15% cheaper

Aurora rent is 15% cheaper than Denver

Aurora

Winner

$1,781/mo

Denver

$2,089/mo

What this means for your life

Typical rent runs $1,781 a month in Aurora versus $2,089 in Denver, so Aurora is 15% 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 $3,696 — enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Aurora still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Denver.

Median income

1% higher

Aurora's median income is 1% higher than Denver

Aurora

Winner

$85,943

Denver

$85,853

What this means for your life

Median household income is $85,943 in Aurora versus $85,853 in Denver, so typical pay runs 1% higher in Aurora — about $90 more household income a year. The income edge is modest. Treat it as extra negotiating context, not a reason to ignore rent, schools, or climate. Remote workers especially should not treat citywide pay as a personal raise if their employer will not localize salary.

Crime index

37% lower crime

Aurora's crime index is 37% lower than Denver

Aurora

Winner

86 (100 = avg)

Denver

137 (100 = avg)

What this means for your life

Aurora's crime index is 86 versus 137 in Denver (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 37% 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. Denver can still work if you pick the right pocket — just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.

School scores

Neck and neck

Aurora and Denver are about even on school scores.

Aurora

A- · 84/100

Denver

A- · 84/100

What this means for your life

School composites are effectively even (A- in Aurora, A- in Denver). For families with kids this is a warning if you assumed one city was obviously better — at this range the campus, not the city name, decides it. Tour the zoned elementary you would actually use.

Typical weather

33% more comfortable

Aurora weather is 33% more comfortable than Denver

Aurora

Winner

67°F typical

Denver

82°F typical

What this means for your life

Aurora scores 33% more comfortable on this page's weather index, which rewards temperatures closer to a livable outdoor day. Typical temperatures sit around 67°F in Aurora and 82°F in Denver. Aurora reads as mild, livable temperatures; Denver reads as hot, long summers. Climate affects quality of life more than most people anticipate when planning a move. Consider how much time you spend outdoors and whether extreme heat or cold impacts your mood or productivity. Aurora is the better default if you want year-round outdoor access. Denver can still be right if you love that climate on purpose — beach heat, dry heat, or a real winter — but you cannot return a city's weather.

Fit check

Who should choose Aurora

Career-focused movers who want salary upside plus year-round outdoor access

Aurora is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 15% cheaper here at about $1,781 a month. Choose Aurora if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.

It is also a match for career-focused movers who want salary upside and year-round outdoor access. Median household income runs 1% higher ($85,943), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two — around 67°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 37% lower than Denver (86 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.

Open the Aurora report →

Fit check

Who should choose Denver

People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Denver

On these five categories Aurora takes the scoreboard, so you should not choose Denver because the stats are kinder — they are not. Choose Denver only if a job offer, family, a specific neighborhood, or a life you already started there outweighs the box score. Plenty of good moves ignore the aggregate; just do it on purpose.

Open the Denver report →

Bottom line

Aurora vs Denver, called

If safety is your priority, Aurora is the clear choice.

If weather matters more to you, Aurora pulls ahead.

For most movers comparing these two cities, Aurora offers the better overall package.

Common questions

Aurora vs Denver FAQ

Is Aurora cheaper than Denver?: Yes. Typical rent in Aurora is $1,781 a month versus $2,089 in Denver — 15% cheaper. Median household income is $85,943 in Aurora compared with $85,853 in Denver, so Aurora has the stronger local pay picture.
Which city is safer, Aurora or Denver?: Aurora is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 86 versus 137 in Denver — 37% lower (100 is the national average). Citywide indexes still hide neighborhood variation, so walk the block you would actually rent.
Which city has better schools, Aurora or Denver?: School composites are close: A- in Aurora and A- in Denver. Tour specific campuses rather than picking a city on the letter grade alone.

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