City comparison
Yes. Phoenix's crime index is 174 versus 212 in Aurora, and its violent crime index is 216 versus 248, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Phoenix is cheaper. Median rent is $1,582 a month versus $1,835 in Aurora.
Phoenix and Aurora are closer on paper than many city pairs, so the move comes down to how you weight cost, safety, and climate. Typical rent sits near $1,582 in Phoenix and $1,835 in Aurora, and median household income lands at $81,332 versus $88,368. Use the category rows below to see which gaps would change your daily life.
Phoenix 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 Phoenix is the stronger move.
Visit both if you can. Cities reveal themselves in the ordinary moments, a Tuesday morning commute, a Saturday errand run, not on a weekend visit.
The move
Phoenix and Aurora are 591 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,582 a month in Phoenix to $1,835 a month in Aurora, up $253 a month (16%).
Median household income goes from $81,332 in Phoenix to $88,368 in Aurora, up $7,036 (9%).
The crime index goes from 174 in Phoenix to 212 in Aurora, up 38 points (22%).
The move
Aurora and Phoenix are 591 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,835 a month in Aurora to $1,582 a month in Phoenix, down $253 a month (14%).
Median household income goes from $88,368 in Aurora to $81,332 in Phoenix, down $7,036 (8%).
The crime index goes from 212 in Aurora to 174 in Phoenix, down 38 points (18%).
Phoenix, AZ
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 Phoenix and Aurora? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
14% cheaper
Phoenix rent is 14% cheaper than Aurora
Phoenix
Winner$1,582/mo
Aurora
$1,835/mo
Typical rent runs $1,582 a month in Phoenix versus $1,835 in Aurora, so Phoenix is 14% 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 $3,036, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Phoenix 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 Phoenix? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
9% higher
Aurora's median income is 9% higher than Phoenix
Phoenix
$81,332
Aurora
Winner$88,368
Median household income is $88,368 in Aurora versus $81,332 in Phoenix, so typical pay runs 9% higher in Aurora (about $7,036 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
18% lower crime
Phoenix's crime index is 18% lower than Aurora
Phoenix
Winner174 (100 = avg)
Aurora
212 (100 = avg)
Phoenix's crime index is 174 versus 212 in Aurora (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 18% lower in Phoenix. 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, Phoenix 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
9% more comfortable
Phoenix weather is 9% more comfortable than Aurora
Phoenix
Winner81°F avg · 87°F highs · comfort 97/100
Aurora
61°F avg · 71°F highs · comfort 89/100
Phoenix averages about 81°F (87°F highs); Aurora averages about 61°F (71°F highs). Phoenix averages around 81°F. Aurora averages around 61°F. Phoenix scores 9% 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
Phoenix is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 14% cheaper here at about $1,582 a month. Choose Phoenix if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Pick Phoenix if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (81°F) beat Aurora on this page's weather index by 9%. Aurora may pay more or cost less, but Phoenix is the city where the forecast fights you less.
Phoenix is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 18% lower than Aurora (174 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 9% 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
Weather separates these metros: $1,582/month rent in Phoenix at 81°F versus $1,835 in Aurora at 61°F. Income runs $81,332 vs $88,368, but the daily feel of the move is the temperature gap.
Aurora still pays more locally ($88,368 median income vs $81,332), which can offset the lease if your field pays Aurora rates.
Typical rent stays $1,582 in Phoenix and $1,835 in Aurora.
Between Phoenix and Aurora, Phoenix is ahead on climate — 81°F typical weather versus 61°F. Lean Aurora instead when you would rather tolerate 61°F than optimize for Phoenix's comfort score.
Common questions
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Next steps
Quotes and listings for Phoenix when you're ready to act.
Keep researching
Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Phoenix and Aurora, plus other cities in AZ and CO.
