City comparison
Yes. San Jose's crime index is 157 versus 212 in Aurora, and its violent crime index is 161 versus 248, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Aurora is cheaper. Median rent is $1,835 a month versus $2,669 in San Jose.
The income gap between San Jose and Aurora is significant: $146,427 median household versus $88,368. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $2,669 in San Jose and $1,835 in Aurora.
San Jose is not a close call here. It leads on the job market, 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 San Jose is the stronger move.
The rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. Aurora at $1,835 average has pockets that run $1,635 and others at $2,235: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
San Jose and Aurora are 935 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $2,669 a month in San Jose to $1,835 a month in Aurora, down $834 a month (31%).
Median household income goes from $146,427 in San Jose to $88,368 in Aurora, down $58,059 (40%).
The crime index goes from 157 in San Jose to 212 in Aurora, up 55 points (35%).
The move
Aurora and San Jose are 935 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,835 a month in Aurora to $2,669 a month in San Jose, up $834 a month (45%).
Median household income goes from $88,368 in Aurora to $146,427 in San Jose, up $58,059 (66%).
The crime index goes from 212 in Aurora to 157 in San Jose, down 55 points (26%).
San Jose, 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 San Jose and Aurora? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
31% cheaper
Aurora rent is 31% cheaper than San Jose
San Jose
$2,669/mo
Aurora
Winner$1,835/mo
Typical rent runs $1,835 a month in Aurora versus $2,669 in San Jose, so Aurora is 31% cheaper. That's roughly $834/month back in your pocket ($10,008/year). Over five years that's $50,040 you could redirect toward a down payment, travel, or investments. Housing is the bill you pay before groceries, childcare, or a social life, so that gap shows up in how often you eat out and how panicked a rent hike feels. If you already have a high-paying offer in San Jose, the extra rent can be rational. If you do not, Aurora is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.
Planning to buy in San Jose? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
66% higher
San Jose's median income is 66% higher than Aurora
San Jose
Winner$146,427
Aurora
$88,368
Median household income is $146,427 in San Jose versus $88,368 in Aurora, so typical pay runs 66% higher in San Jose (about $58,059 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, San Jose 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
26% lower crime
San Jose's crime index is 26% lower than Aurora
San Jose
Winner157 (100 = avg)
Aurora
212 (100 = avg)
San Jose's crime index is 157 versus 212 in Aurora (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 26% lower in San Jose. 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, San Jose 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
12% more comfortable
San Jose weather is 12% more comfortable than Aurora
San Jose
Winner66°F avg · 76°F highs · comfort 100/100
Aurora
61°F avg · 71°F highs · comfort 89/100
San Jose averages about 66°F (76°F highs); Aurora averages about 61°F (71°F highs). San Jose sits near 66°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Aurora averages around 61°F. San Jose 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 66% higher ($146,427), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 66°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
San Jose is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 26% lower than Aurora (157 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
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Aurora
Aurora is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 31% 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.
Bottom line
Aurora is cheaper on rent ($1,835/month vs $2,669), but San Jose's $146,427 median income beats Aurora's $88,368 by 40%. Remote workers paid on San Jose scales can make that trade; local-market earners often cannot.
San Jose still pays more locally ($146,427 median income vs $88,368), which can offset the lease if your field pays San Jose rates.
Safety scores read 46/100 in San Jose and 37/100 in Aurora.
Between San Jose and Aurora, San Jose is ahead on local pay — $146,427 median income against $88,368. Lean Aurora instead when keeping rent near $1,835/month beats chasing $146,427 median income.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for San Jose and Aurora, plus other cities in CA and CO.
