City comparison
No. Aurora's crime index is 212 versus 434 in Oakland, and its violent crime index is 248 versus 491, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Aurora is cheaper. Median rent is $1,835 a month versus $1,979 in Oakland.
Safety is where Oakland and Aurora split most clearly. Aurora scores 222 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,979 in Oakland and $1,835 in Aurora.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Aurora costs less and Oakland 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 crime gap is citywide. Aurora has rougher pockets and Oakland has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Oakland and Aurora are 947 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,979 a month in Oakland to $1,835 a month in Aurora, down $144 a month (7%).
Median household income goes from $101,600 in Oakland to $88,368 in Aurora, down $13,232 (13%).
The crime index goes from 434 in Oakland to 212 in Aurora, down 222 points (51%).
The move
Aurora and Oakland are 947 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,835 a month in Aurora to $1,979 a month in Oakland, up $144 a month (8%).
Median household income goes from $88,368 in Aurora to $101,600 in Oakland, up $13,232 (15%).
The crime index goes from 212 in Aurora to 434 in Oakland, up 222 points (105%).
Oakland, CA
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 Oakland and Aurora? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
7% cheaper
Aurora rent is 7% cheaper than Oakland
Oakland
$1,979/mo
Aurora
Winner$1,835/mo
Typical rent runs $1,835 a month in Aurora versus $1,979 in Oakland, so Aurora is 7% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $144, or $1,728 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 Aurora? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
15% higher
Oakland's median income is 15% higher than Aurora
Oakland
Winner$101,600
Aurora
$88,368
Median household income is $101,600 in Oakland versus $88,368 in Aurora, so typical pay runs 15% higher in Oakland (about $13,232 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, Oakland is the stronger labor market on paper. Aurora can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
51% lower crime
Aurora's crime index is 51% lower than Oakland
Oakland
434 (100 = avg)
Aurora
Winner212 (100 = avg)
Aurora's crime index is 212 versus 434 in Oakland (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 51% 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. Oakland can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
12% more comfortable
Oakland weather is 12% more comfortable than Aurora
Oakland
Winner67°F avg · 79°F highs · comfort 100/100
Aurora
61°F avg · 71°F highs · comfort 89/100
Oakland averages about 67°F (79°F highs); Aurora averages about 61°F (71°F highs). Oakland sits near 67°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Aurora averages around 61°F. Oakland 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
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 15% higher ($101,600), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 67°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Fit check
Families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy
Aurora is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 7% cheaper here at about $1,835 a month. Choose Aurora if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Aurora is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 51% lower than Oakland (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
Neither city is a free pass on neighborhood choice, but Aurora leads on safety (37/100 vs 15/100 in Oakland). Typical rent is $1,835 in Aurora and $1,979 in Oakland; do not assume the cheaper lease buys the calmer blocks.
Aurora rent at $1,835/month is still below Oakland's $1,979, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Weather averages land near 67°F in Oakland and 61°F in Aurora.
Between Oakland and Aurora, Aurora is ahead on safety — 37/100 safety versus 15/100. Lean Oakland instead when you already know the Oakland 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 Oakland and Aurora, plus other cities in CA and CO.
