City comparison
Yes. Boston's crime index is 147 versus 212 in Aurora, and its violent crime index is 175 versus 248, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Aurora is cheaper. Median rent is $1,835 a month versus $2,147 in Boston.
Climate is the sharpest divide between Boston and Aurora. Boston averages 50°F while Aurora averages 61°F, a difference that affects utility bills, outdoor lifestyle, and how you feel nine months of the year. Rent runs $2,147 versus $1,835.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Aurora costs less and Boston 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.
The crime gap is citywide. Boston has rougher pockets and Aurora has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Boston and Aurora are 1,758 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $2,147 a month in Boston to $1,835 a month in Aurora, down $312 a month (15%).
Median household income goes from $97,344 in Boston to $88,368 in Aurora, down $8,976 (9%).
The crime index goes from 147 in Boston to 212 in Aurora, up 65 points (44%).
The move
Aurora and Boston are 1,758 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,835 a month in Aurora to $2,147 a month in Boston, up $312 a month (17%).
Median household income goes from $88,368 in Aurora to $97,344 in Boston, up $8,976 (10%).
The crime index goes from 212 in Aurora to 147 in Boston, down 65 points (31%).
Boston, MA
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 Boston and Aurora? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
15% cheaper
Aurora rent is 15% cheaper than Boston
Boston
$2,147/mo
Aurora
Winner$1,835/mo
Typical rent runs $1,835 a month in Aurora versus $2,147 in Boston, 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 $3,744, 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 Boston.
Planning to buy in Aurora? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
10% higher
Boston's median income is 10% higher than Aurora
Boston
Winner$97,344
Aurora
$88,368
Median household income is $97,344 in Boston versus $88,368 in Aurora, so typical pay runs 10% higher in Boston (about $8,976 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
31% lower crime
Boston's crime index is 31% lower than Aurora
Boston
Winner147 (100 = avg)
Aurora
212 (100 = avg)
Boston's crime index is 147 versus 212 in Aurora (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 31% lower in Boston. 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, Boston 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
53% more comfortable
Aurora weather is 53% more comfortable than Boston
Boston
50°F avg · 56°F highs · comfort 58/100
Aurora
Winner61°F avg · 71°F highs · comfort 89/100
Boston averages about 50°F (56°F highs); Aurora averages about 61°F (71°F highs). Boston averages around 50°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Aurora averages around 61°F. Aurora scores 53% 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 Boston 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
Boston is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 10% higher here ($97,344). Start with Boston if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Boston is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 31% lower than Aurora (147 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
Aurora is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 15% cheaper here at about $1,835 a month. Choose Aurora if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Pick Aurora if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (61°F) beat Boston on this page's weather index by 53%. Boston may pay more or cost less, but Aurora is the city where the forecast fights you less.
Bottom line
Aurora carries the heavier crime signal on this page (37/100 safety vs 48/100 in Boston). That 11-point spread matters more than the $312 rent gap when you are choosing where to walk after dark.
Safety still diverges (48/100 in Boston vs 37/100 in Aurora), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Typical rent stays $1,835 in Aurora and $2,147 in Boston.
Pick Boston when you want the stronger safety signal (48/100). Otherwise, Aurora's case rests on a Aurora ZIP you trust at $1,835 rent.
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 Boston and Aurora, plus other cities in MA and CO.
