City comparison
Yes. Tampa's crime index is 93 versus 212 in Aurora, and its violent crime index is 112 versus 248, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Tampa is cheaper. Median rent is $1,701 a month versus $1,835 in Aurora.
Safety is where Tampa and Aurora split most clearly. Tampa scores 119 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,701 in Tampa and $1,835 in Aurora.
Tampa 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 Tampa is the stronger move.
The crime gap is citywide. Tampa has rougher pockets and Aurora has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Tampa and Aurora are 1,514 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,701 a month in Tampa to $1,835 a month in Aurora, up $134 a month (8%).
Median household income goes from $75,475 in Tampa to $88,368 in Aurora, up $12,893 (17%).
The crime index goes from 93 in Tampa to 212 in Aurora, up 119 points (128%).
The move
Aurora and Tampa are 1,514 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,835 a month in Aurora to $1,701 a month in Tampa, down $134 a month (7%).
Median household income goes from $88,368 in Aurora to $75,475 in Tampa, down $12,893 (15%).
The crime index goes from 212 in Aurora to 93 in Tampa, down 119 points (56%).
Tampa, FL
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 Tampa and Aurora? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
7% cheaper
Tampa rent is 7% cheaper than Aurora
Tampa
Winner$1,701/mo
Aurora
$1,835/mo
Typical rent runs $1,701 a month in Tampa versus $1,835 in Aurora, so Tampa is 7% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $134, or $1,608 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 Tampa? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
17% higher
Aurora's median income is 17% higher than Tampa
Tampa
$75,475
Aurora
Winner$88,368
Median household income is $88,368 in Aurora versus $75,475 in Tampa, so typical pay runs 17% higher in Aurora (about $12,893 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, Aurora is the stronger labor market on paper. Tampa can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
56% lower crime
Tampa's crime index is 56% lower than Aurora
Tampa
Winner93 (100 = avg)
Aurora
212 (100 = avg)
Tampa's crime index is 93 versus 212 in Aurora (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 56% lower in Tampa. 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, Tampa 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
33% more comfortable
Tampa weather is 33% more comfortable than Aurora
Tampa
Winner70°F avg · 77°F highs · comfort 100/100
Aurora
56°F avg · 65°F highs · comfort 75/100
Tampa averages about 70°F (77°F highs); Aurora averages about 56°F (65°F highs). Tampa sits near 70°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Aurora averages around 56°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Tampa scores 33% 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
Tampa is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 7% cheaper here at about $1,701 a month. Choose Tampa if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Pick Tampa if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (70°F) beat Aurora on this page's weather index by 33%. Aurora may pay more or cost less, but Tampa is the city where the forecast fights you less.
Tampa is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 56% lower than Aurora (93 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 17% 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
Crime and safety tilt toward Tampa: Tampa scores 62/100 versus 37/100 in Aurora, with typical rent at $1,701 versus $1,835. I would vet the exact ZIP in Aurora before trading 25 safety points for housing savings.
Safety still diverges (62/100 in Tampa vs 37/100 in Aurora), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Median income is $88,368 in Aurora versus $75,475 in Tampa.
Tampa clears the bar on safety in this dataset. Aurora deserves a serious look only when you already know the Aurora block you would live on and the safety gap is acceptable.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Tampa and Aurora, plus other cities in FL and CO.
