City comparison
Yes. Sacramento's crime index is 181 versus 212 in Aurora, and its violent crime index is 213 versus 248, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Sacramento is cheaper. Median rent is $1,779 a month versus $1,835 in Aurora.
Sacramento 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 $1,779 in Sacramento and $1,835 in Aurora, and median household income lands at $87,321 versus $88,368. Use the category rows below to see which gaps would change your daily life.
Sacramento 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 Sacramento 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
Sacramento and Aurora are 895 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,779 a month in Sacramento to $1,835 a month in Aurora, up $56 a month (3%).
Median household income goes from $87,321 in Sacramento to $88,368 in Aurora, up $1,047 (1%).
The crime index goes from 181 in Sacramento to 212 in Aurora, up 31 points (17%).
The move
Aurora and Sacramento are 895 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,835 a month in Aurora to $1,779 a month in Sacramento, down $56 a month (3%).
Median household income goes from $88,368 in Aurora to $87,321 in Sacramento, down $1,047 (1%).
The crime index goes from 212 in Aurora to 181 in Sacramento, down 31 points (15%).
Sacramento, 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 Sacramento and Aurora? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
3% cheaper
Sacramento rent is 3% cheaper than Aurora
Sacramento
Winner$1,779/mo
Aurora
$1,835/mo
Typical rent runs $1,779 a month in Sacramento versus $1,835 in Aurora, so Sacramento is 3% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $56, or $672 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 Sacramento? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
1% higher
Aurora's median income is 1% higher than Sacramento
Sacramento
$87,321
Aurora
Winner$88,368
Median household income is $88,368 in Aurora versus $87,321 in Sacramento, so typical pay runs 1% higher in Aurora (about $1,047 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
15% lower crime
Sacramento's crime index is 15% lower than Aurora
Sacramento
Winner181 (100 = avg)
Aurora
212 (100 = avg)
Sacramento's crime index is 181 versus 212 in Aurora (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 15% lower in Sacramento. The difference is noticeable without being night-and-day. You will still want to pick the neighborhood carefully in Sacramento, but you will usually spend less energy on constant vigilance than you would in Aurora. Tour both cities after dark before you let a modest index gap close the decision.
Typical weather
12% more comfortable
Sacramento weather is 12% more comfortable than Aurora
Sacramento
Winner66°F avg · 77°F highs · comfort 100/100
Aurora
61°F avg · 71°F highs · comfort 89/100
Sacramento averages about 66°F (77°F highs); Aurora averages about 61°F (71°F highs). Sacramento sits near 66°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Aurora averages around 61°F. Sacramento 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
Sacramento is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 3% cheaper here at about $1,779 a month. Choose Sacramento if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Pick Sacramento if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (66°F) beat Aurora on this page's weather index by 12%. Aurora may pay more or cost less, but Sacramento is the city where the forecast fights you less.
Sacramento is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 15% lower than Aurora (181 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 1% 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
Sacramento runs 66°F typical weather against 61°F in Aurora (comfort scores 100 vs 89). Housing is $1,779/month versus $1,835/month, so this decision is lifestyle-weighted as much as financial.
With only $56 separating typical rent, run both offer letters before housing cost alone picks the city.
Typical rent stays $1,779 in Sacramento and $1,835 in Aurora.
Pick Aurora when 61°F is the daily environment you want. Otherwise, Sacramento's case rests on 66°F you prefer and $1,779 rent you can sustain.
Common questions
Ready to move to Sacramento?
Next steps
Quotes and listings for Sacramento when you're ready to act.
Keep researching
Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Sacramento and Aurora, plus other cities in CA and CO.
