City comparison
No. Aurora's crime index is 212 versus 265 in Portland, and its violent crime index is 248 versus 207, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Portland is cheaper. Median rent is $1,655 a month versus $1,835 in Aurora.
Portland 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 $1,655 in Portland and $1,835 in Aurora, and median household income lands at $90,919 versus $88,368. Use the category rows below to see which gaps would change your daily life.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Portland is the easier city on typical rent, but Aurora can still be the better daily fit depending on schools, safety, and climate. Both are defensible choices for different reasons.
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
Portland and Aurora are 989 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,655 a month in Portland to $1,835 a month in Aurora, up $180 a month (11%).
Median household income goes from $90,919 in Portland to $88,368 in Aurora, down $2,551 (3%).
The crime index goes from 265 in Portland to 212 in Aurora, down 53 points (20%).
The move
Aurora and Portland are 989 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,835 a month in Aurora to $1,655 a month in Portland, down $180 a month (10%).
Median household income goes from $88,368 in Aurora to $90,919 in Portland, up $2,551 (3%).
The crime index goes from 212 in Aurora to 265 in Portland, up 53 points (25%).
Portland, OR
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 Portland and Aurora? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
10% cheaper
Portland rent is 10% cheaper than Aurora
Portland
Winner$1,655/mo
Aurora
$1,835/mo
Typical rent runs $1,655 a month in Portland versus $1,835 in Aurora, so Portland is 10% 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 $2,160, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Portland 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 Portland? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
3% higher
Portland's median income is 3% higher than Aurora
Portland
Winner$90,919
Aurora
$88,368
Median household income is $90,919 in Portland versus $88,368 in Aurora, so typical pay runs 3% higher in Portland (about $2,551 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
Aurora's crime index is 20% lower than Portland
Portland
265 (100 = avg)
Aurora
Winner212 (100 = avg)
Aurora's crime index is 212 versus 265 in Portland (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 20% 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. Portland can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
3% more comfortable
Aurora weather is 3% more comfortable than Portland
Portland
60°F avg · 68°F highs · comfort 86/100
Aurora
Winner61°F avg · 71°F highs · comfort 89/100
Portland averages about 60°F (68°F highs); Aurora averages about 61°F (71°F highs). Portland averages around 60°F. Aurora averages around 61°F. Aurora scores 3% 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 Portland 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 and professional growth
Portland is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 10% cheaper here at about $1,655 a month. Choose Portland if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Portland is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 3% higher here ($90,919). Start with Portland if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Fit check
Outdoor enthusiasts and people who need year-round access to nature for their wellbeing
Pick Aurora if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (61°F) beat Portland on this page's weather index by 3%. Portland may pay more or cost less, but Aurora is the city where the forecast fights you less.
Aurora 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 Portland (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
Crime and safety tilt toward Aurora: Aurora scores 37/100 versus 30/100 in Portland, with typical rent at $1,835 versus $1,655. I would vet the exact ZIP in Portland before trading 7 safety points for housing savings.
With only $180 separating typical rent, run both offer letters before housing cost alone picks the city.
Median income is $90,919 in Portland versus $88,368 in Aurora.
Aurora clears the bar on safety in this dataset. Portland deserves a serious look only when you already know the Portland block you would live on and the safety gap is acceptable.
Common questions
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Next steps
Quotes and listings for Portland when you're ready to act.
Keep researching
Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Portland and Aurora, plus other cities in OR and CO.
