City comparison
No. Aurora's crime index is 212 versus 252 in Seattle, and its violent crime index is 248 versus 216, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Aurora is cheaper. Median rent is $1,835 a month versus $2,030 in Seattle.
The income gap between Seattle and Aurora is significant: $123,860 median household versus $88,368. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $2,030 in Seattle and $1,835 in Aurora.
Aurora is not a close call here. It leads on cost of living, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Seattle makes sense if you have a specific reason, a job offer, family, or a neighborhood you already know, but on the numbers alone Aurora 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
Seattle and Aurora are 1,027 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $2,030 a month in Seattle to $1,835 a month in Aurora, down $195 a month (10%).
Median household income goes from $123,860 in Seattle to $88,368 in Aurora, down $35,492 (29%).
The crime index goes from 252 in Seattle to 212 in Aurora, down 40 points (16%).
The move
Aurora and Seattle are 1,027 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,835 a month in Aurora to $2,030 a month in Seattle, up $195 a month (11%).
Median household income goes from $88,368 in Aurora to $123,860 in Seattle, up $35,492 (40%).
The crime index goes from 212 in Aurora to 252 in Seattle, up 40 points (19%).
Seattle, WA
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 Seattle and Aurora? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
10% cheaper
Aurora rent is 10% cheaper than Seattle
Seattle
$2,030/mo
Aurora
Winner$1,835/mo
Typical rent runs $1,835 a month in Aurora versus $2,030 in Seattle, so Aurora 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 $2,340, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Aurora still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Seattle.
Planning to buy in Aurora? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
40% higher
Seattle's median income is 40% higher than Aurora
Seattle
Winner$123,860
Aurora
$88,368
Median household income is $123,860 in Seattle versus $88,368 in Aurora, so typical pay runs 40% higher in Seattle (about $35,492 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, Seattle 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
16% lower crime
Aurora's crime index is 16% lower than Seattle
Seattle
252 (100 = avg)
Aurora
Winner212 (100 = avg)
Aurora's crime index is 212 versus 252 in Seattle (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 16% 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. Seattle can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
24% more comfortable
Aurora weather is 24% more comfortable than Seattle
Seattle
55°F avg · 62°F highs · comfort 72/100
Aurora
Winner61°F avg · 71°F highs · comfort 89/100
Seattle averages about 55°F (62°F highs); Aurora averages about 61°F (71°F highs). Seattle averages around 55°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Aurora averages around 61°F. Aurora scores 24% 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 Seattle 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
Seattle is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 40% higher here ($123,860). Start with Seattle 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
Aurora is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 10% 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.
Pick Aurora if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (61°F) beat Seattle on this page's weather index by 24%. Seattle 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 16% lower than Seattle (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
Aurora is cheaper on rent ($1,835/month vs $2,030), but Seattle's $123,860 median income beats Aurora's $88,368 by 29%. Remote workers paid on Seattle scales can make that trade; local-market earners often cannot.
With only $195 separating typical rent, run both offer letters before housing cost alone picks the city.
Weather averages land near 55°F in Seattle and 61°F in Aurora.
Seattle leads on local pay ($123,860 median income vs $88,368), even though rent runs $2,030 versus $1,835 — skip Seattle only if you are optimizing for the cheaper lease, not the paycheck.
Common questions
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Next steps
Quotes and listings for Aurora when you're ready to act.
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Seattle and Aurora, plus other cities in WA and CO.
