City comparison
Yes. Austin's crime index is 162 versus 212 in Aurora, and its violent crime index is 130 versus 248, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Austin is cheaper. Median rent is $1,729 a month versus $1,835 in Aurora.
Safety is where Austin and Aurora split most clearly. Austin scores 50 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,729 in Austin and $1,835 in Aurora.
Austin is not a close call here. It leads on cost of living, the job market, 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 Austin is the stronger move.
The crime gap is citywide. Austin has rougher pockets and Aurora has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Austin and Aurora are 766 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,729 a month in Austin to $1,835 a month in Aurora, up $106 a month (6%).
Median household income goes from $93,658 in Austin to $88,368 in Aurora, down $5,290 (6%).
The crime index goes from 162 in Austin to 212 in Aurora, up 50 points (31%).
The move
Aurora and Austin are 766 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,835 a month in Aurora to $1,729 a month in Austin, down $106 a month (6%).
Median household income goes from $88,368 in Aurora to $93,658 in Austin, up $5,290 (6%).
The crime index goes from 212 in Aurora to 162 in Austin, down 50 points (24%).
Austin, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Aurora, CO
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Austin and Aurora? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
6% cheaper
Austin rent is 6% cheaper than Aurora
Austin
Winner$1,729/mo
Aurora
$1,835/mo
Typical rent runs $1,729 a month in Austin versus $1,835 in Aurora, so Austin is 6% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $106, or $1,272 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 Austin? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
6% higher
Austin's median income is 6% higher than Aurora
Austin
Winner$93,658
Aurora
$88,368
Median household income is $93,658 in Austin versus $88,368 in Aurora, so typical pay runs 6% higher in Austin (about $5,290 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
24% lower crime
Austin's crime index is 24% lower than Aurora
Austin
Winner162 (100 = avg)
Aurora
212 (100 = avg)
Austin's crime index is 162 versus 212 in Aurora (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 24% lower in Austin. 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, Austin 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
Austin weather is 12% more comfortable than Aurora
Austin
Winner68°F avg · 76°F highs · comfort 100/100
Aurora
61°F avg · 71°F highs · comfort 89/100
Austin averages about 68°F (76°F highs); Aurora averages about 61°F (71°F highs). Austin sits near 68°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Aurora averages around 61°F. Austin 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 plus year-round outdoor access
Austin is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 6% cheaper here at about $1,729 a month. Choose Austin 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 6% higher ($93,658), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 68°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Austin is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 24% lower than Aurora (162 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 Aurora
On these five categories Austin takes the scoreboard, so you should not choose Aurora because the stats are kinder. They are not. Choose Aurora 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.
Bottom line
Neither city is a free pass on neighborhood choice, but Austin leads on safety (45/100 vs 37/100 in Aurora). Typical rent is $1,729 in Austin and $1,835 in Aurora; do not assume the cheaper lease buys the calmer blocks.
Safety still diverges (45/100 in Austin vs 37/100 in Aurora), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Median income is $93,658 in Austin versus $88,368 in Aurora.
Austin is ahead on safety (45/100 vs 37/100); Aurora is still viable when you have a vetted ZIP there and $1,835/month rent plus $88,368 income fit your budget better than the safety margin.
Common questions
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Next steps
Quotes and listings for Austin when you're ready to act.
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Austin and Aurora, plus other cities in TX and CO.
