Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Anchorage, AK
VS
Aurora, CO
🏆 Anchorage leads 12 of 23 categories
Anchorage
Alaska
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$95,731 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
267⚠ High
Population
290,674
Aurora
Colorado
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$78,685
Violent Crime Index
249⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
387,349 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Anchorage, AK
Pros
Households earn $17,046 more per year on average
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
Rent averages $246/mo less ($1,405 vs $1,651)
Cooler summers — July highs near 67°F vs 90°F
Homes cost $46k less ($363,800 vs $409,700)
More college-educated — 37.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Violent crime (1014.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2765.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 59" of snow per year
Aurora, CO
Pros
7% less violent crime than Anchorage
Milder winters — January highs near 47°F vs 21°F
Smaller class sizes — 16.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (947.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Anchorage by $17,046/yr
Higher rents — median is $1,651/mo
Property crime (3103.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Anchorage
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 104.5 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Anchorage
Median Income
$17,046
$95,731 vs $78,685/yr
Anchorage
Median Home Value
$46k less
$363,800 vs $409,700
Aurora
Violent Crime
7% lower
947.8 vs 1014.8 per 100k
Aurora
Summer Heat
23.0°F warmer
July avg high 90.4°F vs 67.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Anchorage, AK | Aurora, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 105.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $363,800⚠ High ✓ Lower | $409,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,405⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,651⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $95,731 ✓ Higher | $78,685 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.1 min ✓ Shorter | 29.4 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 8.7% | 13.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 213⚠ High | 209⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 267⚠ High | 249⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 132⚠ High ✓ Safer | 148⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) ✓ Better | B- (93) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.3:1 | 16.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.0% ✓ Higher | 31.8% |
| High School or Higher | 94.2% ✓ Higher | 86.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Anchorage School District | Aurora Joint District No. 28 of the counties of Adams and A |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 20.9°F | 47.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 67.4°F | 90.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 22.6" | 17.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 59.3" | 49.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 290,674 | 387,349 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.5 | 35.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 63.8% ✓ Higher | 62.5% |
| Under 18 | 23.9% | 24.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.0% ✓ More | 11.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Anchorage's cost of living index is 104.5 vs Aurora's 105.5 (US average = 100).
Anchorage is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Anchorage leads 12 of 23 categories. Anchorage wins 12 and Aurora wins 11. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Anchorage to Aurora or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($363,800 vs $409,700 median home), income ($95,731 vs $78,685), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Anchorage, AK and Aurora, CO are about 2,385 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.