Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Ann Arbor, MI
VS
Aurora, IL
🏆 Aurora leads 12 of 22 categories
Ann Arbor
Michigan
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$78,546
Violent Crime Index
80
Population
122,216
Aurora
Illinois
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$85,943 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
70 ✓ Safer
Population
181,405 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Ann Arbor, MI
Pros
More college-educated — 77.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.9 pts lower (3.7%)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Aurora
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $416,500
Median income trails Aurora by $7,397/yr
Snowy winters — about 59" of snow per year
Aurora, IL
Pros
Homes cost $175k less ($241,600 vs $416,500)
12% less violent crime than Ann Arbor
Households earn $7,397 more per year on average
Cons
Higher unemployment (5.6% vs 3.7%)
Longer commutes — 28.6 min average each way
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Ann Arbor
Key Differences at a Glance
Ann Arbor
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 98.0 vs 102.6 (100 = US avg)
Ann Arbor
Unemployment
1.9 pp lower
3.7% vs 5.6% unemployment
Aurora
Median Income
$7,397
$85,943 vs $78,546/yr
Aurora
Violent Crime
12% lower
266.0 vs 302.5 per 100k
Aurora
Median Home Value
$175k less
$241,600 vs $416,500
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Ann Arbor, MI | Aurora, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.0 ✓ Cheaper | 102.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $416,500⚠ High | $241,600 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,472⚠ High | $1,462⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,546 | $85,943 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.7% ✓ Lower | 5.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.6 min ✓ Shorter | 28.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 23.2% ✓ Higher | 12.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 80 | 66 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 80 | 70 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 82 | 60 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (119) ✓ Better | B+ (105) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 | 14.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 77.5% ✓ Higher | 35.2% |
| High School or Higher | 97.8% ✓ Higher | 80.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Ann Arbor Public Schools | Indian Prairie CUSD 204 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.7°F ✓ Warmer | 30.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 84.0°F | 84.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 35.9" ✓ Drier | 39.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 59.3" | 27.9" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 122,216 | 181,405 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 27.4 | 35.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.0% | 66.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 12.2% | 26.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.3% ✓ More | 10.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Ann Arbor's cost of living index is 98.0 vs Aurora's 102.6 (US average = 100).
Ann Arbor is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Aurora leads 12 of 22 categories. Ann Arbor wins 10 and Aurora wins 12. 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 Ann Arbor to Aurora or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($416,500 vs $241,600 median home), income ($78,546 vs $85,943), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Ann Arbor, MI and Aurora, IL are about 237 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.