City comparison
No. Aurora's crime index is 212 versus 223 in Washington, and its violent crime index is 248 versus 243, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Aurora is cheaper. Median rent is $1,835 a month versus $1,954 in Washington.
The income gap between Washington and Aurora is significant: $109,870 median household versus $88,368. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $1,954 in Washington 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. Washington 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
Washington and Aurora are 1,481 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,954 a month in Washington to $1,835 a month in Aurora, down $119 a month (6%).
Median household income goes from $109,870 in Washington to $88,368 in Aurora, down $21,502 (20%).
The crime index goes from 223 in Washington to 212 in Aurora, down 11 points (5%).
The move
Aurora and Washington are 1,481 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,835 a month in Aurora to $1,954 a month in Washington, up $119 a month (6%).
Median household income goes from $88,368 in Aurora to $109,870 in Washington, up $21,502 (24%).
The crime index goes from 212 in Aurora to 223 in Washington, up 11 points (5%).
Washington, DC
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 Washington and Aurora? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
6% cheaper
Aurora rent is 6% cheaper than Washington
Washington
$1,954/mo
Aurora
Winner$1,835/mo
Typical rent runs $1,835 a month in Aurora versus $1,954 in Washington, so Aurora is 6% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $119, or $1,428 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 Aurora? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
24% higher
Washington's median income is 24% higher than Aurora
Washington
Winner$109,870
Aurora
$88,368
Median household income is $109,870 in Washington versus $88,368 in Aurora, so typical pay runs 24% higher in Washington (about $21,502 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, Washington 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
5% lower crime
Aurora's crime index is 5% lower than Washington
Washington
223 (100 = avg)
Aurora
Winner212 (100 = avg)
Aurora's crime index is 212 versus 223 in Washington (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 5% lower in Aurora. The difference is noticeable without being night-and-day. You will still want to pick the neighborhood carefully in Aurora, but you will usually spend less energy on constant vigilance than you would in Washington. Tour both cities after dark before you let a modest index gap close the decision.
Typical weather
24% more comfortable
Aurora weather is 24% more comfortable than Washington
Washington
55°F avg · 62°F highs · comfort 72/100
Aurora
Winner61°F avg · 71°F highs · comfort 89/100
Washington averages about 55°F (62°F highs); Aurora averages about 61°F (71°F highs). Washington 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 Washington 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
Washington is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 24% higher here ($109,870). Start with Washington 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 6% 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 Washington on this page's weather index by 24%. Washington 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 5% lower than Washington (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
This pair is really a paycheck comparison: Washington at $109,870 median income versus $88,368 in Aurora. Housing ($1,835 in Aurora, $1,954 in Washington) is secondary unless you are rent-burdened already.
With only $119 separating typical rent, run both offer letters before housing cost alone picks the city.
Safety scores read 36/100 in Washington and 37/100 in Aurora.
Pick Washington when your field pays toward $109,870 median income. Otherwise, Aurora's case rests on a $1,835 lease that leaves more room in the monthly budget.
Common questions
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Next steps
Quotes and listings for Aurora when you're ready to act.
Keep researching
Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Washington and Aurora, plus other cities in DC and CO.
