City comparison
No. Aurora's crime index is 212 versus 270 in Houston, and its violent crime index is 248 versus 294, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Houston is cheaper. Median rent is $1,361 a month versus $1,835 in Aurora.
The income gap between Houston and Aurora is significant: $64,813 median household versus $88,368. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $1,361 in Houston and $1,835 in Aurora.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Houston costs less and Aurora 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 rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. Houston at $1,361 average has pockets that run $1,161 and others at $1,761: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Houston and Aurora are 872 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,361 a month in Houston to $1,835 a month in Aurora, up $474 a month (35%).
Median household income goes from $64,813 in Houston to $88,368 in Aurora, up $23,555 (36%).
The crime index goes from 270 in Houston to 212 in Aurora, down 58 points (21%).
The move
Aurora and Houston are 872 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,835 a month in Aurora to $1,361 a month in Houston, down $474 a month (26%).
Median household income goes from $88,368 in Aurora to $64,813 in Houston, down $23,555 (27%).
The crime index goes from 212 in Aurora to 270 in Houston, up 58 points (27%).
Houston, 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 Houston and Aurora? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
26% cheaper
Houston rent is 26% cheaper than Aurora
Houston
Winner$1,361/mo
Aurora
$1,835/mo
Typical rent runs $1,361 a month in Houston versus $1,835 in Aurora, so Houston is 26% cheaper. That's roughly $474/month back in your pocket ($5,688/year). Over five years that's $28,440 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, Houston is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.
Planning to buy in Houston? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
36% higher
Aurora's median income is 36% higher than Houston
Houston
$64,813
Aurora
Winner$88,368
Median household income is $88,368 in Aurora versus $64,813 in Houston, so typical pay runs 36% higher in Aurora (about $23,555 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. Houston can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
21% lower crime
Aurora's crime index is 21% lower than Houston
Houston
270 (100 = avg)
Aurora
Winner212 (100 = avg)
Aurora's crime index is 212 versus 270 in Houston (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 21% 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. Houston can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
12% more comfortable
Houston weather is 12% more comfortable than Aurora
Houston
Winner70°F avg · 78°F highs · comfort 100/100
Aurora
61°F avg · 71°F highs · comfort 89/100
Houston averages about 70°F (78°F highs); Aurora averages about 61°F (71°F highs). Houston sits near 70°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Aurora averages around 61°F. Houston 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
Outdoor enthusiasts and people who need year-round access to nature for their wellbeing
Houston is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 26% cheaper here at about $1,361 a month. Choose Houston if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Pick Houston if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (70°F) beat Aurora on this page's weather index by 12%. Aurora may pay more or cost less, but Houston is the city where the forecast fights you less.
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 36% higher here ($88,368). Start with Aurora if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Aurora is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 21% lower than Houston (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.
Bottom line
Aurora posts $88,368 median household income against $64,813 in Houston. That 27% pay gap is the story when rents are $1,361 in Houston and $1,835 in Aurora.
Aurora still pays more locally ($88,368 median income vs $64,813), which can offset the lease if your field pays Aurora rates.
Safety scores read 30/100 in Houston and 37/100 in Aurora.
Aurora leads on local pay ($88,368 median income vs $64,813), even though rent runs $1,835 versus $1,361 — skip Aurora only if you are optimizing for the cheaper lease, not the paycheck.
Common questions
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Next steps
Quotes and listings for Houston when you're ready to act.
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Houston and Aurora, plus other cities in TX and CO.
