City comparison
Yes. Las Vegas's crime index is 138 versus 212 in Aurora, and its violent crime index is 122 versus 248, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Las Vegas is cheaper. Median rent is $1,563 a month versus $1,835 in Aurora.
Safety is where Las Vegas and Aurora split most clearly. Las Vegas scores 74 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,563 in Las Vegas and $1,835 in Aurora.
Las Vegas 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 Las Vegas is the stronger move.
The crime gap is citywide. Las Vegas has rougher pockets and Aurora has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Las Vegas and Aurora are 612 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,563 a month in Las Vegas to $1,835 a month in Aurora, up $272 a month (17%).
Median household income goes from $73,877 in Las Vegas to $88,368 in Aurora, up $14,491 (20%).
The crime index goes from 138 in Las Vegas to 212 in Aurora, up 74 points (54%).
The move
Aurora and Las Vegas are 612 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,835 a month in Aurora to $1,563 a month in Las Vegas, down $272 a month (15%).
Median household income goes from $88,368 in Aurora to $73,877 in Las Vegas, down $14,491 (16%).
The crime index goes from 212 in Aurora to 138 in Las Vegas, down 74 points (35%).
Las Vegas, NV
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 Las Vegas and Aurora? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
15% cheaper
Las Vegas rent is 15% cheaper than Aurora
Las Vegas
Winner$1,563/mo
Aurora
$1,835/mo
Typical rent runs $1,563 a month in Las Vegas versus $1,835 in Aurora, so Las Vegas 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 $3,264, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Las Vegas 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 Las Vegas? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
20% higher
Aurora's median income is 20% higher than Las Vegas
Las Vegas
$73,877
Aurora
Winner$88,368
Median household income is $88,368 in Aurora versus $73,877 in Las Vegas, so typical pay runs 20% higher in Aurora (about $14,491 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. Las Vegas can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
35% lower crime
Las Vegas's crime index is 35% lower than Aurora
Las Vegas
Winner138 (100 = avg)
Aurora
212 (100 = avg)
Las Vegas's crime index is 138 versus 212 in Aurora (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 35% lower in Las Vegas. 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, Las Vegas 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
Las Vegas weather is 12% more comfortable than Aurora
Las Vegas
Winner71°F avg · 76°F highs · comfort 100/100
Aurora
61°F avg · 71°F highs · comfort 89/100
Las Vegas averages about 71°F (76°F highs); Aurora averages about 61°F (71°F highs). Las Vegas sits near 71°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Aurora averages around 61°F. Las Vegas 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
Las Vegas is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 15% cheaper here at about $1,563 a month. Choose Las Vegas if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Pick Las Vegas if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (71°F) beat Aurora on this page's weather index by 12%. Aurora may pay more or cost less, but Las Vegas is the city where the forecast fights you less.
Las Vegas is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 35% lower than Aurora (138 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 20% 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 Las Vegas: Las Vegas scores 50/100 versus 37/100 in Aurora, with typical rent at $1,563 versus $1,835. I would vet the exact ZIP in Aurora before trading 13 safety points for housing savings.
Aurora still pays more locally ($88,368 median income vs $73,877), which can offset the lease if your field pays Aurora rates.
Median income is $88,368 in Aurora versus $73,877 in Las Vegas.
Pick Las Vegas when you want the stronger safety signal (50/100). Otherwise, Aurora's case rests on a Aurora ZIP you trust at $1,835 rent.
Common questions
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Nearby research
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