City comparison
Yes. New York's crime index is 169 versus 212 in Aurora, and its violent crime index is 195 versus 248, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
New York is cheaper. Median rent is $1,821 a month versus $1,835 in Aurora.
Climate is the sharpest divide between New York and Aurora. New York averages 52°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 $1,821 versus $1,835.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. New York 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.
Weather is the one thing you cannot negotiate with. Visit New York in its coldest stretch before you sign anything.
The move
New York and Aurora are 1,619 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,821 a month in New York to $1,835 a month in Aurora, up $14 a month (1%).
Median household income goes from $80,483 in New York to $88,368 in Aurora, up $7,885 (10%).
The crime index goes from 169 in New York to 212 in Aurora, up 43 points (25%).
The move
Aurora and New York are 1,619 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,835 a month in Aurora to $1,821 a month in New York, down $14 a month (1%).
Median household income goes from $88,368 in Aurora to $80,483 in New York, down $7,885 (9%).
The crime index goes from 212 in Aurora to 169 in New York, down 43 points (20%).
New York, NY
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 New York and Aurora? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
1% cheaper
New York rent is 1% cheaper than Aurora
New York
Winner$1,821/mo
Aurora
$1,835/mo
Typical rent runs $1,821 a month in New York versus $1,835 in Aurora, so New York is 1% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $14, or $168 a year: noticeable, but rent alone should not pick the city. Use this as a tie-breaker after you compare income, schools, and crime, unless you are already stretching every dollar.
Planning to buy in New York? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
10% higher
Aurora's median income is 10% higher than New York
New York
$80,483
Aurora
Winner$88,368
Median household income is $88,368 in Aurora versus $80,483 in New York, so typical pay runs 10% higher in Aurora (about $7,885 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
20% lower crime
New York's crime index is 20% lower than Aurora
New York
Winner169 (100 = avg)
Aurora
212 (100 = avg)
New York's crime index is 169 versus 212 in Aurora (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 20% lower in New York. 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, New York 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
39% more comfortable
Aurora weather is 39% more comfortable than New York
New York
52°F avg · 58°F highs · comfort 64/100
Aurora
Winner61°F avg · 71°F highs · comfort 89/100
New York averages about 52°F (58°F highs); Aurora averages about 61°F (71°F highs). New York averages around 52°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Aurora averages around 61°F. Aurora scores 39% 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 New York if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
Fit check
Families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy
New York is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 1% cheaper here at about $1,821 a month. Choose New York if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
New York is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 20% lower than Aurora (169 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 plus year-round outdoor access
It is also a match for career-focused movers who want salary upside and year-round outdoor access. Median household income runs 10% higher ($88,368), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 61°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Bottom line
Crime and safety tilt toward New York: New York scores 44/100 versus 37/100 in Aurora, with matched rent near $1,821/month. I would vet the exact ZIP in Aurora before trading 7 safety points for an identical lease.
Median income is $88,368 in Aurora versus $80,483 in New York — with rent matched, the paycheck gap matters more.
Pick New York when you want the stronger safety signal (44/100). Otherwise, Aurora's case rests on a Aurora ZIP you trust at $1,835 rent.
Weather averages land near 52°F in New York and 61°F in Aurora.
Common questions
Ready to move to New York?
Next steps
Quotes and listings for New York when you're ready to act.
Keep researching
Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for New York and Aurora, plus other cities in NY and CO.
