What are the schools like in Aurora, SD?

School district data for Aurora is sourced from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES).

What is the median household income in Aurora?

The median household income in Aurora, SD is $87,273 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 0.3%.

What is the weather like in Aurora, SD?

Aurora has an average high temperature of 22.2°F in January and 81.4°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 27.0 inches and annual snowfall averages 35.8 inches.

Aurora, SD Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Aurora, SD affordable or expensive?

Aurora's cost of living index is 93, where 100 represents the national average. This means Aurora is 7% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $205,000 and the median rent is $881 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Aurora, SD?

Aurora has a violent crime rate of 82.7 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 878.1 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Aurora, SD a Good Place to Live?

Aurora is a small town of 1,429 in South Dakota, with a median household income of $87,273 and a 0.3% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 93 (US average = 100), which is 7% below the national average.

Strengths: Aurora stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, a well-educated population, short average commutes.

Trade-offs: No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Aurora is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Aurora city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 93.2

Aurora's overall cost of living index is 93.2, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Aurora costs roughly 7% less than the average American city.

Metric	Aurora, SD	National Avg
Median Home Value	$205,000	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$881	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	72.7%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$87,273	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Aurora's violent crime rate is 82.7 per 100,000 residents — 78% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

82.7 /100k

Property Crime

878.1 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Metric	Aurora, SD	National Avg
School District	N/A	—
Elementary Schools	N/A	—
Middle Schools	N/A	—
High Schools	N/A	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	N/A	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	38.2%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	96.5%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Aurora sees average highs of 22.2°F in January and 81.4°F in July, with 27.0 inches of annual precipitation and 35.8 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Aurora, SD
Average High — January	22.2°F
Average High — July	81.4°F
Annual Precipitation	27.0"
Annual Snowfall	35.8"

Demographics

Metric	Aurora, SD	National Avg
Population	1,429	—
Median Age	29.5	38.9
Unemployment Rate	0.3%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	16.3 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	90.6%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.0%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	2.3%	18.9%
Asian	0.6%	6.3%
Under 18	26.5%	22.2%
65 and over	8.5%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Bushnell, SD 4 mi Brookings, SD 5 mi Rolland Colony, SD 6 mi Newdale Colony, SD 8 mi Elkton, SD 11 mi

ZIP Codes in Aurora

Aurora, SD is covered by 1 ZIP code:

57002

Aurora vs Other Cities

Aurora, SD vs Bushnell, SD Aurora, SD vs Brookings, SD Aurora, SD vs Rolland Colony, SD Aurora, SD vs Newdale Colony, SD Aurora, SD vs Elkton, SD

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Aurora, SD affordable or expensive?

Aurora's cost of living index is 93, where 100 is the national average. That makes Aurora roughly 7% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $205,000 and median rent is $881/month.

What is the crime rate in Aurora, SD?

Aurora's violent crime rate is 82.7 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 878.1 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Aurora?

School district information is sourced from NCES Common Core of Data.

Is Aurora, SD a good place to live?

Aurora, SD has a population of 1,429, a median household income of $87,273, and an unemployment rate of 0.3%. It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Aurora?

Aurora averages 22.2°F in January and 81.4°F in July. Annual rainfall is 27.0 inches with about 35.8 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Aurora?

Aurora, SD is covered by 1 ZIP code: 57002.

What is the population of Aurora?

The population of Aurora, South Dakota is 1,429 with a median age of 29.5. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Aurora?

Key numbers for living in Aurora: cost of living index 93 (100 = US average), median home $205,000, median household income $87,273, crime index 30 (100 = US average, lower is safer). Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Aurora side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.