City comparison
Yes. Jacksonville's crime index is 150 versus 212 in Aurora, and its violent crime index is 155 versus 248, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Jacksonville is cheaper. Median rent is $1,465 a month versus $1,835 in Aurora.
Climate is the sharpest divide between Jacksonville and Aurora. Jacksonville averages 68°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 $1,465 versus $1,835.
Jacksonville 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 Jacksonville is the stronger move.
The rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. Jacksonville at $1,465 average has pockets that run $1,265 and others at $1,865: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Jacksonville and Aurora are 1,457 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,465 a month in Jacksonville to $1,835 a month in Aurora, up $370 a month (25%).
Median household income goes from $69,872 in Jacksonville to $88,368 in Aurora, up $18,496 (26%).
The crime index goes from 150 in Jacksonville to 212 in Aurora, up 62 points (41%).
The move
Aurora and Jacksonville are 1,457 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,835 a month in Aurora to $1,465 a month in Jacksonville, down $370 a month (20%).
Median household income goes from $88,368 in Aurora to $69,872 in Jacksonville, down $18,496 (21%).
The crime index goes from 212 in Aurora to 150 in Jacksonville, down 62 points (29%).
Jacksonville, FL
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 Jacksonville and Aurora? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
20% cheaper
Jacksonville rent is 20% cheaper than Aurora
Jacksonville
Winner$1,465/mo
Aurora
$1,835/mo
Typical rent runs $1,465 a month in Jacksonville versus $1,835 in Aurora, so Jacksonville 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 $4,440, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Jacksonville 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 Jacksonville? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
26% higher
Aurora's median income is 26% higher than Jacksonville
Jacksonville
$69,872
Aurora
Winner$88,368
Median household income is $88,368 in Aurora versus $69,872 in Jacksonville, so typical pay runs 26% higher in Aurora (about $18,496 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. Jacksonville can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
29% lower crime
Jacksonville's crime index is 29% lower than Aurora
Jacksonville
Winner150 (100 = avg)
Aurora
212 (100 = avg)
Jacksonville's crime index is 150 versus 212 in Aurora (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 29% lower in Jacksonville. 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, Jacksonville 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
33% more comfortable
Jacksonville weather is 33% more comfortable than Aurora
Jacksonville
Winner68°F avg · 74°F highs · comfort 100/100
Aurora
56°F avg · 65°F highs · comfort 75/100
Jacksonville averages about 68°F (74°F highs); Aurora averages about 56°F (65°F highs). Jacksonville sits near 68°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. Jacksonville 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
Jacksonville is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 20% cheaper here at about $1,465 a month. Choose Jacksonville if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Pick Jacksonville if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (68°F) beat Aurora on this page's weather index by 33%. Aurora may pay more or cost less, but Jacksonville is the city where the forecast fights you less.
Jacksonville is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 29% lower than Aurora (150 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 26% 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
Crime and safety tilt toward Jacksonville: Jacksonville scores 48/100 versus 37/100 in Aurora, with typical rent at $1,465 versus $1,835. I would vet the exact ZIP in Aurora before trading 11 safety points for housing savings.
Aurora still pays more locally ($88,368 median income vs $69,872), which can offset the lease if your field pays Aurora rates.
Weather averages land near 68°F in Jacksonville and 56°F in Aurora.
Jacksonville clears the bar on safety in this dataset. Aurora deserves a serious look only when you already know the Aurora block you would live on and the safety gap is acceptable.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Jacksonville and Aurora, plus other cities in FL and CO.
