City comparison
Dallas is safer than Aurora. Dallas's crime index is 188 versus 212 in Aurora, and its violent crime index is 179 versus 248, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Dallas is cheaper. Median rent is $1,472 a month versus $1,835 in Aurora.
Climate is the sharpest divide between Dallas and Aurora. Dallas averages 72°F while Aurora averages 56°F, a difference that affects utility bills, outdoor lifestyle, and how you feel nine months of the year. Rent runs $1,472 versus $1,835.
Dallas is not a close call here. It leads on cost of living, 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 Dallas is the stronger move.
The rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. Dallas at $1,472 average has pockets that run $1,272 and others at $1,872: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Dallas and Aurora are 655 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,472 a month in Dallas to $1,835 a month in Aurora, up $363 a month (25%).
Median household income goes from $70,518 in Dallas to $88,368 in Aurora, up $17,850 (25%).
The crime index goes from 188 in Dallas to 212 in Aurora, up 24 points (13%).
The move
Aurora and Dallas are 655 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,835 a month in Aurora to $1,472 a month in Dallas, down $363 a month (20%).
Median household income goes from $88,368 in Aurora to $70,518 in Dallas, down $17,850 (20%).
The crime index goes from 212 in Aurora to 188 in Dallas, down 24 points (11%).
Dallas, 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 Dallas and Aurora? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
20% cheaper
Dallas rent is 20% cheaper than Aurora
Dallas
Winner$1,472/mo
Aurora
$1,835/mo
Typical rent runs $1,472 a month in Dallas versus $1,835 in Aurora, so Dallas is 20% 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 $4,356, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Dallas 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 Dallas? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
25% higher
Aurora's median income is 25% higher than Dallas
Dallas
$70,518
Aurora
Winner$88,368
Median household income is $88,368 in Aurora versus $70,518 in Dallas, so typical pay runs 25% higher in Aurora (about $17,850 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. Dallas can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
11% lower crime
Dallas's crime index is 11% lower than Aurora
Dallas
Winner188 (100 = avg)
Aurora
212 (100 = avg)
Dallas's crime index is 188 versus 212 in Aurora (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 11% lower in Dallas. The difference is noticeable without being night-and-day. You will still want to pick the neighborhood carefully in Dallas, but you will usually spend less energy on constant vigilance than you would in Aurora. Tour both cities after dark before you let a modest index gap close the decision.
Typical weather
33% more comfortable
Dallas weather is 33% more comfortable than Aurora
Dallas
Winner72°F avg · 80°F highs · comfort 100/100
Aurora
56°F avg · 65°F highs · comfort 75/100
Dallas averages about 72°F (80°F highs); Aurora averages about 56°F (65°F highs). Dallas sits near 72°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Aurora averages around 56°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Dallas 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
Outdoor enthusiasts and people who need year-round access to nature for their wellbeing
Dallas is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 20% cheaper here at about $1,472 a month. Choose Dallas if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Pick Dallas if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (72°F) beat Aurora on this page's weather index by 33%. Aurora may pay more or cost less, but Dallas is the city where the forecast fights you less.
Dallas is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 11% lower than Aurora (188 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
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 25% higher here ($88,368). Start with Aurora if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Bottom line
Rent is the clearest fork: Dallas at $1,472/month versus $1,835 in Aurora ($363 apart). Aurora median income is $88,368 against $70,518 in Dallas, so the cheaper lease does not always pair with the stronger local wage base.
Dallas rent at $1,472/month is still below Aurora's $1,835, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Median income is $88,368 in Aurora versus $70,518 in Dallas.
Pick Dallas when shaving $363 off rent at $1,472/month is the priority. Otherwise, Aurora's case rests on $1,835/month rent with $88,368 local income.
Common questions
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Next steps
Quotes and listings for Dallas when you're ready to act.
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Dallas and Aurora, plus other cities in TX and CO.
